I was exhausted from the heat and from visiting various attractions in the "Kyffhäuser Region". How can I write a travel guide for Thuringia without doing so?
After I entered Sondershausen an older "Gasthaus" caught my attention. I was too tired to spend much time on searching an accommodation and normally a "Gasthaus" (guest house) offers a restaurant as well as rooms to stay.
I was lucky a nice looking guest room for dining and a very reasonable priced large suite. As usual I had to climb stairs - no elevator and the furnishing was a little bit of a mixture. But important everything was clean and I had lots of room.
The "Gasthaus" in which I stayed
I had my home cooked Thuringian dinner here and it was delicious
After unloading the essentials from my car, a shower and a Thuringian dinner I felt strong enough to walk through the surrounding downtown area.
It was very quiet and I did not see many people except a few teenage girls with a dog on the market place.
Where are the boys?
Everybody told me that I should visit "Schloß Sondershausen". When I was in front of the castle it was naturally already closed. and for the next day I already had planned to participate in a tour through the near by "Erlebnisbergwerk" a former potash mine.
Too bad that Elizabeth, my wife, had to return earlier to Canada. She does not like caves and being underground, but she loves castles. We could have done two independent tours, similar what we did in Newfoundland-Labrador.
The castle is being considered to be one of the prettiest ones in all of Thuringia. The main attractions are a golden coach and a collection of curiosities. But also the surrounding park would have caught Elizabeth's attention.
The castle in Sondershausen
Very quiet in the evening
It was almost shocking not to see any tourists in this beautiful old town. Even the locals seem to be hiding. High unemployment is obviously the reason that people must stay at home instead of spending money.
The tables outside of the coffee shops and restaurants were deserted despite the fact that it was nice evening.
I checked some store windows. Especially used mopeds and motor bikes which were produced in Thuringia before the unification of Germany were of interest to me.
Then I walked back to my accommodation and what a surprise - in the little beer garden I found some people. Naturally I enjoyed a beer with them before going to bed.
Unemployment was really a serious problem, especially in this part of Thuringia. Nevertheless I learned that sometimes people have still fun. Just watch the video about a carnival parade.
Downtown Sondershausen
Almost no customers
I loved my time in Sondershausen
I visited the so called Erlebnisbergwerk - a former potash mine. Please don't hesitate to do the same. Surprisingly I found there many visitors despite the relatively high price. However, after the tour and what was offered I think is was a fair offer.
Ask about events in the mine when you are here. Watch the video below about an Irish band performing there.
I believe the problem of Thuringia is that it is internationally not wellknown. When it was still part of the GDR it was not easy to visit. We hope that our web site will help to attract more foreigners from all over the world.
A real adventure is the "Erlebnisbergwerk", a former potash mine
After we had returned to Canada we got in contact with a new established company who creates and sells exclusive art. They also help other artists by selling their work.
We were badly in need for carvers for Springerle cookie molds. We sell successfully for years replicas of those wonderful pieces of folks art on-line. After experiencing delivery problems with our Swiss supplier we want to offer our own line which will be manufactured in Sondershausen by a small company. We found a very talented and reliable partner.
One of the workshops of Dukasi in Sondershausen
The name of the company is Dukasi. They carved already molds for our friend Ken in the USA. We installed a link to their German web site. Some of our American friends got already originals carved by Dukasi.
Watch the video "Impressions of the Kyffhäuser Region. Kyffhäuserkreis Impressionen":
Watch the video "Erlebnisbergwerk Glückauf - Sondershausen - Urlaub mitten in Deutschland":
Watch the video "Seldom Sober Company - Irish folk live im Erlebnisbergwerk Sondershausen":
Ringberg Hotel in Suhl
Watch the video "Rosenmotagsumzug Sondershausen":
Watch the slideshow: Werbung in unserem englischen Internet-Reiseführer für Thüringen
Watch the video: Unstrut-Hainich Region, impressions, Impressionen
Erfurt Thuringia (Thüringen) some impressions- einige Impressionen
