Surroundings of our camp site in Thuringia
"Drei Gleichen": this is the generic name for those three legendary castles located right next to each other and connected by well-marked hiking paths.
- Mühlburg
- Burg Gleichen
- Wachsenburg
Mühlberg:
Thuringia's oldest parish is located at the foot of the Mühlburg, the town of Mühlberg, mentioned for the first time in official records in 704. The well-preserved,
historical town centre is worth a visit, as is the Baroque church, the gusher that once powered seven mills and the newly constructed fire brigade museum.
The town is also home to several restaurants, offering Thuringian cakes and an ice cream parlour by the gusher.
(http://www.muehlberg-online.de)
Recreational facilities in the town: Kunst- und Kulturscheune (Art and Culture Barn), bowling alley, sports ground, fishing, riding, 18-hole golf course, bathing close by and much more.
Arnstadt:(25,000 inhabitants, approx. 12 km to the southeast
of Mühlberg): This is where Johannes Sebastian Bach was organist in today's
Bach Church from 1703 to 1707. Even today, research into and performance
of his works is a significant feature in the culture on offer in this
delightful little town at the foot of the Wachsenburg. The castle, constructed
in the 18th century, is also worth visiting, as is the so-called Doll
City "Mon Plaisier" with over 400 dolls, collected by Countess Auguste
Dorothea around 1700.
Weimar:
(65,000 inhabitants, approx. 40 km east of Mühlberg):
The life and work of classic German figures such as Goethe, Schiller, Herder and Wieland are intrinsically linked to this cultural metropolis.
This can be traced and experienced on a stroll through town. The Goethe House, the National Theatre, the Schiller Museum and Schiller and Goethe's graves are just some of the striking places
to meet these prominent literary figures. But pioneers and protagonists from other musical and artistic directions were attracted to Weimar's humanist spirit:
Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, Richard Strauss, Friedrich Nietzsche and Walter Gropius, who founded BAUHAUS here in 1919.
Gotha:
(47,000 inhabitants, approx. 18 km northwest of Mühlberg): Friedenstein
Castle in Gotha was the first Baroque residence to be built after the
end of the thirty-years war. It is found well-preserved at the heart of
the castle gardens, created between 1806 and 1811. The interior of the
castle accommodates numerous interesting museums, for example the collection
of paintings by Lucas Cranach, Rubens, Franz Hals and others. The marketplace
in the centre of town is flanked by many lovingly restored Renaissance
buildings, whereby the Town Hall is particularly prominent.
Erfurt: (202,000 inhabitants, approx. 20 km northeast of Mühlberg):
Erfurt is the largest city in Thuringia and also the seat of state government.
In the Middle Ages, Erfurt was a flourishing trade town: one can gain an impression of its significance at the sight of the well-preserved patricians' houses around Krämer Bridge,
Brückenstraße and the fish market. The cathedral occupies a dominant position in the cityscape; it accommodates the so-called "Glorioso", one of the world's largest freely-oscillating bells.
St. Severi's Church, constructed in the 12th century, is located directly next to the cathedral.
You can find additional tips for holidays in Thuringia at www.thueringen.info
