Leisure activities
Bad Frankenhausen, a favoured cure town, is located in the North of Thuringia – the “Green Heart of Germany”. We bear the title cure town because salt springs are running underground of Bad Frankenhausen. Our salt water spa (Kyffhäuser Thermal Bath) is well-known in the whole region.
art
Above the town, a cylindrical building rises from the idyllic southern slopes of Kyffhäuser Hills. That building houses the centrepiece of one of the most spectacular commissions in recent German art history, the monumental painting “Early Bourgeois Revolution in Germany“ (1983-1987) by the artist Werner Tübke. The painting with a size of 14x123 meters is the 2nd biggest one all over the world.
nature and adventure
Those who wish to enjoy nature will love the Kyffhäuer region. Popular sightseeings are the Barbarossa Cave, the Kyffhäuser Memorial, several castles or the Possen Park on the outskirts of Sondershausen. For adventurer we advise the oldest descendable salt Mine Sondershausen. During a fascinating "travel to the centre of the earth" through a mysterious subterranean labyrinth you not only can see imposing extraction and production facilities. On a boat trip on a salt lake you go through a mysteriously illuminated cave.
Or what about touring on horseback? „All the happiness of our world lies on the back of the horses!”. Riding through untouched nature, quiet forrests, open meadows and blossoming countryside makes the heart of every horse lover beat faster. Newcomers or experienced riders are accompanied by instructing riders.
city life
Another attraction is the most beautiful city of Thuringia and its capital, Erfurt. Erfurt which is just 40 minutes by car has a university and the city’s cultural, intellectual and economic dominance drew great personalities such as Luther (Augustinian Monastery), Goethe, Schiller, Herder, Wieland, Bach.
city of fairs and festivals
Another good reason to visit Erfurt is to experience the ‘Kramerbrückenfest’, Thuringia’s largest and most popular festival. Visitors come from all over the world to see the market stalls or to listen to the minstrels and to watch jugglers.
The autumn grain market displays local products such as fruit, vegetables and honey. The Erfurt wine festival attracts wine lovers from all over Germany to this former wine growing city. During carnival time, both rich and poor, famous and infamous as well as carnival fans from Erfurt’s partner city, Mainz came to Erfurt to greet each other with the traditional "Erfordia Helau" at Erfurt’s carnival.
During Advent, the traditional seasonal aromas of cinnamon, ginger and hot almonds waft from the Erfurt Christmas Market - one of the most beautiful Christmas Markets in Germany with its Crib, the Fairy Tale Forest, stalls displaying craft work, ginger bread cottages and the sound of Christmas music.
city of towers
"Erfordia turrita" or "Erfurt, city of towers" – this is how Martin Luther once praised Erfurt with its 25 parish churches, 15 religious foundations and 10 chapels. This impressive list of ecclesiastical buildings in conjunction with the magnificent architectural motif of the cathedral and the Church of St. Severus inspired historians such as Ernst Stida (1585–1632) to refer to the city as the "The Thuringian Rome". The medieval part of the city is one of the largest and best preserved historical city centres in Germany.
night life
Not only Berlin but also Erfurt offers an attractive night life. Shopping in the evening especially at the Andreas-neighbourhood is inimitable. With its numerous restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars Erfurt has something for every taste and pocket. Besides the several music bars and clubs Erfurt is proud of its well-known theatre. For more information about the theatre program just click here. (www.erfurt-theater.de)