Short Description
Discover sights and historical places in Laucha an der Unstrut.
Description
Tour highlights:
1 Market Square and Town HallThe eye-catcher at the market square is the magnificent town hall, inaugurated in 1563, a testament to the citys former wealth. It is a typical Renaissance building, as evidenced by the rectangular floor plan, the variety of asymmetrically arranged windows with mullions, the column-supported rib vault ceilings on the ground floor. The double-flight stone staircase added in 1913 leads to the council chamber with the beautifully preserved original wooden beam ceiling and stained glass windows donated by Laucha companies. Changing exhibitions also invite visitors to linger. On the ground floor, there is a small museum on the history of the Unstrut railway.
Markt 1, 06636 Laucha an der Unstrut
2 St. Marys ChurchThe St. Marys Church, built between 1479 and 1514, is a late Gothic building that also exhibits typical features of the Renaissance due to multiple construction measures. These include the crossed bars at the entrance portal and the tracery windows with fish bladder pattern. The tower and roof collapsed in the 1731 fire and were rebuilt. The tower is 56 m high and can be visited during scheduled tours. Inside, notable features include the baptismal font from 1538 and the stained glass windows from 1896-98. The nearly completely restored Eifert organ is worth listening to, especially during the organ week held regularly at the beginning of September.
Markt 10, 06636 Laucha an der Unstrut
3 The Old School from 1615At its time, it was the most modern school far and wide. The classrooms were spacious, bright on both sides with many windows, and the roof already covered with tiles. A special ornament is the round arch portal with beautiful Renaissance decor and two embellished stone seats. The inscription panel above the portal contains information about important figures of that time, including the admonition: My little son, you can learn, but not without the teachers help, so hasten to the teacher with rapid steps.
4 City Wall with Upper GateDuring a walk on the promenade, you can see the well-preserved 1112 m long city wall from the 15th century. The only preserved city gate, the Upper Gate, is a rare sight. It is a fortified gate with an outer gate, a barbican with walls and battlements, stairs to the battlement, and an inner gate. A portcullis was formerly installed before the passage to the inner gate. Above the passage, a residence for the gatekeeper was later built, which now houses a small museum.
5 Bell MuseumThe Laucha Museum is the only bell museum in Germany where visitors can experience the process of bell casting from drawing to finished bell in an original preserved bell foundry workshop with the necessary tools. From 1790 to 1911, the Ulrich family cast over 5000 bells here, making the town known in Germany and abroad.
Glockenmuseumsstraße 2a, 06636 Laucha an der Unstrut
April to October: Wed-Sun and holidays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
6 Unstrut Mill and Unstrut LockThe Laucha Mill is a building ensemble that characterizes the towns appearance. The newly built grain mill in 1847 also generated electricity since 1910. The mill was shut down around 1975. After years of inactivity, a mill enthusiast thoroughly renovated the buildings and restored the turbines, which now generate electricity again. The original equipment of the grain mill is still preserved. The Unstrut Lock was important for Unstrut river navigation since 1728. Today, it is used by water sports enthusiasts.
7 Old Sugar FactoryThe site of the dismantled sugar factory in 1947 offers a remarkable and commendable example of revitalizing an industrial wasteland. Apart from the symbolically preserved factory chimney, the two local investors renovated many commercial buildings and demolished dilapidated facilities. This unattractive site transformed into an attractive business area with diverse uses. There is a wine press, a canoe rental, a hostel, holiday apartments, event spaces, and a venue for large events.
Alte Zuckerfabrik 5, 06636 Laucha an der Unstrut
Guided tours available upon request.
8 Citizen HousesBeautifully decorated doorways and entrances from the 16th-18th century can be found, for example, at Oberen Hauptstraße 37, 12 and No. 10, and at Große Salzstraße 9.
Obere Hauptstraße, 06636 Laucha an der Unstrut
Tip: Laucha-Dorndorf AirfieldLocated on the Dorndorf Plateau, the glider airfield opened in 1932. After decades of inactivity, it reopened in 1993 and was developed into a significant center for aviation sports. Alongside the House of Air Sports Youth with a youth hostel, many aviation sports clubs pursue their hobbies here, including glider pilots, ultralight pilots, motor pilots, paragliders, model aircraft builders, and balloonists. The annual highlight is the aviation days held on the weekend before Pentecost.
At the airfield, 06636 Laucha an der Unstrut
Tourist Information Laucha an der UnstrutCity tours, Bell Museum tours, and Old Sugar Factory tours available by appointment.
Markt 1, 06636 Laucha an der Unstrut, Tel. 034462 70021
More Information
Laucha City Tour Brochure