Bad Gandersheim

Bad Gandersheim is a town in South Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is full of character and is made up of many half-timbered houses. Bad Gandersheim has established itself as Lower Saxony's largest professional summer theatre festival.

Understand
Its origins date back to 852, the town's first abbey church (Stiftskirche) was started in 856. A mineral spring was discovered in 1240 and this led to Pope Gregory IX asking for the building of the Holy Spirit Hospital. In about 1330 the Duke of Brunswick built a castle which today is used as the magistrates' court and young offenders correctional facility.

As in the Middle Ages so again today two historic trade and pilgrimage routes meet each other in bad Gandersheim, running from north to south and from east to west.

In the late 19th century, the city began to become known for the curative powers of its mineral springs and in 1932 it received the official right to call itself a spa town, thus 'Bad' Gandersheim, on account of these springs.

In the summer of 1926 there was a three-day "Roswitha Memorial Celebration in 1000-year old Gandersheim". This was the first time the medieval author was used as a symbolic figure for the city. Similar celebrations took place in 1930 and 1933; these had clear national-socialistic themes — 'German Culture' versus 'Jewish-Communist Decadence'.

In 1952, the city celebrated the 1100-year jubilee of the founding of the monastery by Liudolf. A history play "The Song of Gandersheim" was presented on the market square.

The summer festival Gandersheimer Domfestspiele, was started in 1959 and has taken place yearly on the plaza in front of the Stiftskirche since that date. In 2019, its productions were attended by approximately 60,000 theatre visitors.

By plane
Hannover Airport 99 km (1 hr 10 min by car).

By car
Bad Gandersheim is located just off the A7 in the foothills of the Harz close to Osterode.

From the north: Take exit 67-Seesen/​Harz for B248 toward Seesen/​Osterode/​Clausthal-Zellerfeld/​Bad Gandersheim/​B64. Turn right onto Autobahnmeisterei/B243/​B248. Turn right onto B64 for 7 km Take the exit toward Bad Gandersheim-Ost.

From the south: Take A7 towards Hamburg/​Hannover. Take exit 68-Echte for B445 toward Bad Gandersheim/​Kreiensen/​Kalefeld. Turn right onto B445 for 10 km Continue onto Northeimer Straße. Follow signs for Bad Gandersheim.

By train
Bad Gandersheim has a railway station with good connections from other Harz locations and many areas of Germany. For further information on a train from your starting destination go to www.bahn.de.



By bike
Bad Gandersheim is found on the "R1" (European remote bikeway Calais - St. Petersburg) and the D Route 3 and the "cycle path of art" (from Sarstedt to bad Gandersheim). In addition, the city offers cyclists friendly accommodations, lots of information about wheel remote paths, as well as themed trips.

By horse-drawn carriage
For something completely different why not try a horse drawn carriage trip through the countryside. It is available for groups of four to five people. Also gift vouchers are available. Appointment: Telephone +49 5382 58200 or +49 170 2043658 (mobile)

Go next

 * Osterode - This near by town has a variety of things to offer from historic buildings, the Knights Museum and the ruins of St. Jacobi Scholosskirche to  Aqualand an indoor and outdoor swimming centre.
 * Bad Grund - This small town has everything to offer from an Arboretum and Clock Museum to an indoor bowling alley, tennis courts and mini golf.  You can also experience cave therapy and mud baths!  In the winter you can ice skate and ski in the surrounding countryside.
 * Goslar - This picturesque town is well worth a day trip.  Its romantic palace, the beautiful old timber frame buildings, churches and the museums give you plenty to see.  There is also a good collection of shops and cafes around the main market square and the opportunity to explore by horse and carriage.  At night the light from the Rathuas' stained glass windows illuminate the town square. 11 km outside of town there is  UNESCO Welkulturerbe Rammelsberg a world heritage site.  This 1000-year-old mine now houses four museums.
 * Hildesheim
 * Alfeld
 * Einbeck