Ellrich

The small town of Ellrich, located in north-west Thuringia on the southern edge of the Harz Mountains, was first mentioned in a document in 876 and was granted town charter in 1292 and minting rights in 1332. It is assumed that the first settlement existed at the foot of the Frauenberg as early as the 8th century, at which time the town, located on an important trade route, was still referred to as "Alarici". From the 13th to the 16th century, Ellrich was the seat of government of the Counts of Hohnstein, whereupon the town was later completely destroyed by fire during the Thirty Years' War. In 1860, the town centre was almost completely reduced to rubble after previous fires in 1648, 1666, 1722 and 1729, which is why the historical building fabric was almost completely lost and most of today's buildings date back to the time after the last major fire. Today, the town of Ellrich, with the Zorge river flowing through it, has a population of 5,488 (as of 2023) and covers an area of 69.41 square kilometres. The town is not only important for tourism, but also economically in the gypsum industry and as an important transport hub.

If you want to find out more about the history of Ellrich, the town museum with its collections on the history of the town and associations as well as the cultural history of the region is the place to go. The museum is located in the historic St. Spiritus Hospital, a half-timbered ensemble from the Middle Ages that has been preserved almost in its original state. The original kitchen and the historic living quarters are particularly worth seeing.

Buildings worth seeing in the town

Despite the destruction of numerous buildings at that time, Ellrich still has some remarkable buildings to offer today. One of the town's most impressive sights is St John's Church, which is known as Ellrich's landmark and was built in 950. Unfortunately, the towers of the listed church are missing, as they were severely damaged by a lightning strike in 1909 and were subsequently rebuilt in a faulty manner, so the decision was made to remove the towers for good. Only recently, in 2023, was a citizens' petition successful to rebuild the former bell tower.

The Protestant church of St Viti in Gudersleben, built between 1735 and 1737, is also considered a Baroque-style monument worth seeing. Visitors should not miss the interesting vaulted ceiling, the well-preserved stalls and the altar, which was restored in 2007.

Also worth seeing are the remains of the massive town fortifications, the fire brigade museum, the beautiful half-timbered houses in the town centre and the Heinrich Heine Park. Located to the east of the city centre and renovated in 2010, the park is considered a place of peace and relaxation and is home to both the Heinrich Heine monument and the memorial to the victims of the "death march" during the Second World War. During its renovation, paths, park benches and flower beds were renewed and a fountain was added, making it an ideal place for rest and relaxation.

Leisure activities in Ellrich

Especially when temperatures climb above 30 degrees in midsummer, the Ellrich forest pool offers a welcome way to cool off. Covering a total area of 10,800 m², visitors can enjoy a few laps in the water or on the diving tower, water slide or volleyball court. Thanks to its immense size, it is also the largest outdoor pool in Thuringia.

There are several hiking routes in and around Ellrich. The southern Harz gypsum karst landscape can be discovered primarily via the varied karst hiking trail. The town forest with its nature trail, some of which are also suitable for wheelchair users, is also a popular destination for short excursions. In addition, the so-called Kelle Cave is certainly one of the most famous destinations for hikers. The freely accessible cave has a cave lake and has been visited by numerous famous personalities over the centuries.