Wellness Spa Heiligenstadt

	Nature Park Travel - Europe off the beaten track
Contact A-Z Search			home > Heiligenstadt

Wilhelmstrasse

Marienkirche

Kurpark

Tilmann Riemenschneider's house of birth

Vitalpark

Heiligenstadt - Wilhelmstrasse
Marien church and Jesuit College
spa gardens
house Tilman Riemenschneider was born
Vitalpark

Wellness in Spas: Heilbad Heiligenstadt

In Heiligenstadt you

go for a stroll through the historic city center and

get into good shape for a

hike through the nature park.

In 1825, after having finished his studies, doctor of law Heinrich Heine was baptized Protestant in the Heiligenstadt Martin's church: He wanted to avoid the restrictions imposed on Jews practising the legal profession in Germany at this time.

The collectors of fairy tales and philologists Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm worked on their "German Dictionary" in Heiligenstadt.

The writer Theodor Storm was county judge in Heiligenstadt.

>> addresses & links >> accommodation, hotels

Sights

Heiligenstadt is the traditional center of the Eichsfeld region.

The historical city center is shaped by medieval churches, half timbered houses and Baroque buildings, that were built after a large part of the city had been on fire in the 18th century.

The St. Martin church, the Stift or Berg church originated in the 14th century. The St. Egidien and parts of the Marien church also date from this time.

Around 1460 the painter, wood carver and sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider was born in the Heiligenstadt Klausmuehle. Tilman Riemenschneider founded his workshop in Wuerzburg, In 1521/22 he was the city's mayor. During the peasants' war he was on the side of the rebellious farmers, in the follow-up he was arrested and tortured.

In 1525 the theologian and peasant war leader Thomas Muentzer could recruit many supporters in Heiligenstadt. At the Gothic city hall, the Alte Rathaus in Ratsgasse, a memorial plaque commemorates the events of the peasant war.

With the Counter-Reformation Jesuits came into the town. Today's Jesuit College next to Marien church dates back to 1739, a fire destroyed the original college built in 1575. Here, from 1623 to 1624, the Jesuit universal scholar Athanasius Kircher taught Greek grammar.

Today, you can visit the Museum of Local History and Culture in the Jesuit College.

The very impressive traditional Palm Sunday Procession dates from the times, when Jesuits re-catholized Heiligenstadt inhabitants. Since 1581, the procession has been taking place every year.

Since 1363, the Heimenstein district celebrates the parish fair on Whit Monday. Then, people wearing the local traditional costumes move in a large procession through town.

Schleswig-Holstein poet Theodor Storm was born in Husum and died in Husum - however, he did spend 8 years in Heiligenstadt. Objecting to the Danish government temporarily ruling Schleswig-Holstein he had to emigrate to Berlin and finally got the post of county judge in Heiligenstadt.

The Literature Museum in Mainzer Haus commemorates the writer Theodor Storm. The Mainzer Haus is a beautiful half timbered building that dates from 1436.

top of page <<

Wellness

The Kneipp therapy baths with the charming spa gardens offer wellness programs for everybody, for adults and children alike.

You can choose between the traditional saltwater baths and the new "Vitalpark", a modern saltwater and thermal bath with baby pool, sauna, massage, fitness center, bowling alley and restaurant.

Information can be obtained at the Spa Administration.

In summer you can cool off at the open air swimming pool.

top of page <<