Duderstadt

Duderstadt, first mentioned in a document from 929, is located not far from the border with the Free State of Thuringia in the German Untereichsfeld region in the southern Harz foreland.

The town was declared a city in the middle of the 13th century. The upswing was partly due to the support of the Dukes of Brunswick, but also to two important trade routes that intersected in the neighbourhood. It was not until the 15th century that trade stagnated with the decline of the Hanseatic League and the town experienced an economic downturn. Later, the consequences of the Thirty Years' War also made themselves painfully felt. The 19th century brought the railway, but Duderstadt was off the beaten track and was increasingly pushed into a peripheral location.

The architectural styles of the past and present come together in the town. The old town centre is dominated by half-timbered houses, which account for around 80% of the buildings. Duderstadt's town hall, with foundations dating back to the early 14th century, is one of the oldest in Germany and was renovated in 1994. The same applies to St Cyriakus and St Servatius, the Westerturm tower and the ring wall complex. The Ursuline convent in Duderstadt has been in existence since 1700. It includes the Church of Our Lady, which is open to visitors. Also of interest is the local history museum, which was established in 1929. Today, the rooms contain numerous exhibits on the subjects of archaeology, crafts and economic history.

A visit is particularly worthwhile for the fairytale flair of the half-timbered houses. The old town centre is so well preserved that the town is also known as the "pearl" of the Eichfeld region. Duderstadt offers a number of guided tours that focus on history, art, architecture and the town's bat population. In the Alternative Bear Park, a few kilometres from the town, bears and wolves live on four hectares in their natural habitat and visitors are offered an informative stay and guided tours at certain times.