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Nordhausen is another small town where I should have stayed at least for two days to explore some of the main attractions in the town and its surroundings.
It has only a population of about 45 000, and despite the fact that it was part of the former GDR it has an amazing infrastructure.
The first thing I did after arriving in the town was to enjoy a light Italian pasta lunch in a garden restaurant and to stretch my legs.
Then I went on a little walking trip to familiarize myself with the old town which was already mentioned in the year 927.
Nordhausen has a high unemployment rate. This explains that I did not see too many people shopping and enjoying the outdoor cafes and restaurants. But most of the houses had been nicely renovated and it was a pleasure to stroll through the clean pedestrian area. |
 Sight from my place in the restaurant |
 An interesting fountain at the beginning of the pedestrian zone with "Pfarrhaus St. Blasi" |
Please wear suitable shoes such as sneakers but not high heels. Cobble stones are used almost everywhere.
Signs show you the way to attractions. Many of them are churches with a very long history. We recommend to book a guided tour to get the best out of your visit to Nordhausen if you want to hear all the details of an interesting history. It is not the purpose of our little Internet travel guide to replace an actual visit.
There are so many different buildings with different architecture to see and each of them has its own story. Only avoid Mondays for sightseeing - most of the attractions will be closed!
Mondays should be reserved to relax, to do some shopping, hiking or travelling from one place to another. |
 Window shopping was also one of my pleasures in Nordhausen
I did not purchase anything which I regret now. Most of my luggage got lost during my flight to Germany and for that reason I hesitated. There are so many unique things for very reasonable prices available which you may not see anywhere else.
I was surprised to see tramways in Nordhausen which has a population only about 43 000. When I was still a child I explored the town in which I lived by using the street cars. It was a save and cheap way. I should have done this also in Nordhausen - especially after I learned that some of the vehicles are hybrids which can run on tracks where no electrical power is available. Obviously there are plans to expand public transportation into other areas. |
 No work, no money, no customers in restaurants |
 This not one of the "hybrid" street cars
Schnaps (German spelling) has a long tradition in Germany. A special kind of this brew has been produced in Nordhausen for over 500 years. It is made from grain and crystal clear water. For that reason some German people use also the term "Klarer" for all kind of schnapps which is clear.
When you visit this little town and want to get an impression how this was done, I recommend to visit the:
Nordhäuser Traditionsbrennerei
Grimmelallee 11
99734 Nordhausen
The entrance fee includes tasting of samples.
Opening time: Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
The guided tour begins at 2:00 pm. (German only)
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 Schnapps tasting |
Please be aware that driving with too high alcohol levels is also a crime in Germany. Do not ruin your vacations by doing so. The law does not know any merci.
Ask the hosts to call a cab if you drank too much. If you have problems standing at this table it is time to do so.
Naturally, you can purchase some of the specialities for later use or for friends at home.
I always liked a "Korn" after a heavy a greasy meal. It supports digestion. Normally, I preferred it straight and ice cold but not watered down with ice cubes or something else. Now I see that even cocktails are offered using this kind of German schnapps. I will try such a drink some times - you should never stop learning. It looks certainly more appealing to me than tequila with a dead snake in it, or other disgusting offers which I heard off. |
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