Tourist Attractions in Gotha
The former princely capital of Gotha lies in the northern foreland of the Thuringian Forest between Eisenach and Erfurt. One of the oldest towns in Thuringia, it rose to prosperity in the Middle Ages with its trade in woad and corn and became the home of leading humanists and teachers and of Conrad Ekhof (1720-78), the "father of acting in Germany".
Cartographic Museum
In the old Pagenhaus (Pages' House) is the Cartographic Museum (established 1985), the only one of its kind in Europe, which illustrates Gotha's famed mapmaking traditions.
Grosser Inselsberg
Within easy reach of Gotha is the Grosser Inselsberg (916 m/3,005ft), in the Thuringian Forest (nature reserve, superb views).
Marienglashöhle
Near Friedrichroda, outside of Gotha, is the Marienglashöhle, a cave containing rare colorless crystals (guided visits).
Hours
April 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
November 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
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Schloss Friedenstein
The Early Baroque Schloss Friedenstein contains the Schlossmuseum with impressive art and coin collections.
Town Hall
At the foot of the Hauptmarkt in Gotha stands the Town Hall (1567-77; recently restored), a handsome Renaissance building which was originally a Merchants' Hall, later a princely residence and, from 1665, the Town Hall. It has a charming Baroque fountain. On either side of the square are handsome old burghers' houses.
Augustinian Church
In Klosterplatz in Gotha are the Augustinian church and convent (richly furnished interior, Baroque pulpit, Gothic relief carving). In the picturesque cloister are the grave-slabs of well known figures.
Georgenthal, Germany
(Near Gotha)
Georgenthal, 17km/10.5mi south of Gotha, has the remains of a Cistercian monastery founded in 1155. In the Late Gothic Kornhaus is a Heimatmuseum. Northwest of the monastery is a Renaissance Schloss. The village church (Late Romanesque) has a richly decorated organ-case (18th C.).
Hospital of Mary Magdalene
On the Brühl in Gotha is the Hospital of Mary Magdalene, founded in the 18th century on the site of an earlier hospital probably built by St Elizabeth (Erzsébet) of Hungary, with a Baroque doorway crowned by figural sculpture.
Lucas Cranach House
On the east side of the Hauptmarkt in Gotha can be seen the Lucas Cranach House (18th C., with an earlier doorway; commemorative plaque).
Museum of Nature
To the south of the Schloss in Gotha is the Museum of Nature, in French neo-Renaissance style.
Museum der Natur
Schlosspark
Parkallee 15
D-99867 Gotha
Germany
Schlosspark
Parkallee 15
D-99867 Gotha
Germany
Hours
May 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
November 1 to April 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
St Margaret's Church
In the Neumarkt in Gotha stands the Margaretenkirche, a Late Gothic hall-church remodeled in Baroque style in the 17th and 18th centuries and rebuilt after suffering heavy damage in the Second World War. The tower is 65 m/213ft high.
Waltershausen, Germany
(Near Gotha)
14km/8.5mi southwest of Gotha is the old Thuringian doll-making town of Waltershausen, with Schloss Tenneberg (first mentioned in the records in 1176; present building 16th C.), which contains a Heimatmuseum (history of doll-making in Waltershausen). In the Markt stands the Gotteshilfkirche (1719-23), a large Baroque church on a central plan.
