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

The Market Place, view from city hall

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.

Tourist office

1 Tourist Information Centre, Stiftsfreiheit 12, ☏ 49 5382 73-700. M - F 10:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 17:00, Sa 10:00 - 12:00. 

Get in

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.

• 1 Bad Gandersheim railway station (Bahnhof Bad Gandersheim), Bahnhofstr. 1. (updated Jun 2023)

Get around

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.

2 Gründel bike rental (Fahrradverleih Gründel), Hildesheimer Str. 7a (near Vitalpark), ☏ 49 172 5129025 (mobile). Daily 10:00-13:00, other times ring for an appointment. They also offer a repair service and transport of bikes and luggage. €7.00 per day. 

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)

See

City hall (Rathaus)

• 1 Bad Gandersheim Cathedral (Stiftskirche), Concerto Gandersheim e.V., Fuchswinkel 12, ☏ 49 5382 9329295. The cathedral has massive twin towers which dominate the sky. The cathedral offers over 30 concerts a year ranging from Symphony concerts, Chamber music, piano and organ concerts and our outstanding choirs and vocal ensembles. Tickets can be ordered online. For further information on specific listings visit the web site. 
• 2 Brunshausen Monastery (Kloster Brunshausen), Brunshausen. This is where the town of Bad Gandersheim began. It was founded in 852. You can discover the history and especially the impact it had on the local area. There is a lovely cafe set in the courtyard. 
• 3 Museum of the city Bad Gandersheim (Stadtmuseum), Markt 10, ☏ 49 5382 1573. Tu-F 15:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:30-12:30. The museum houses various private collections of historical documents and objects connected with the city's history. There is a very good view from the top if you can face the climb. For guided tours contact the Tourist Information Office. Admission free. 

Do

Sculptures bike path (Skulpturenweg)

• 1 The Pilgrim's Way (Jakobsweg), ☏ 49 4341 38001. 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. Many backpackers walk these historic routes each year. 
• 2 Skulpturenweg. This is a 12-mile bike path that goes from the Brunhausen Monastery in Bad Gandersheim to the Lamspringe Monastery. There are sculptures to view along the way and great views of the local landscape. 
• 3 Sole Forest Swimming Pool (Sole-Waldschwimmbad), Hildesheimer Str. 6b. The centre offers indoor and outdoor pools. It has a very low chlorine content. It has a salt water pool. There are a range of prices depending on how long you stay for. Under 3's are free. 
• 4 Vital Park, Hildesheimer Straße 7a, ☏ 49 5382 95548-0. M-F 09:00-21:30, Sa 09:00-16:00, Su 09:00-13:00. This site offers a 32-degree salt water pool and therapists who combine baths, massages and other wellness feeling applications individually according to your wishes. Please note the sauna is for members only. They also offer various fitness courses including aqua-gym, pilates, aerobics and many more. 

Buy

• 1 Cecil, Burgstr. 3, ☏ 49 5382 955669. Clothing for men and women. 
• 2 Lidl, Holzmindener Straße 2. Low cost supermarket. 
• 3 Heinrich Bertram, Steinweg 35, ☏ 49 5382 2827. Local butchers. 
• 4 Günter Brackel, Steinweg 9, ☏ 49 5382 2691. Bakery shop. 

Eat

Budget

• 1 Farm Café Sprengel, Wolperode 21, ☏ 49 5382 95550. Tu W F Sa 14:00-16:00. A cozy farm cafe which specialties in rustic dishes, and cakes from their farm bakery. The bread is baked in their own stone ovens. Large groups catered for by request. 
• 2 Bistro fly Inn, Flugplatzweg 30 (at the Gandersheimer airfield), ☏ 49 160 93125100. W-Su from 10:00, for other times book by appointment. Wonderful views on the "Heberbörde" and the Gande- and Leine Valley due to its high altitude. The restaurant can cater for parties of up to 40 people on request. 
• 3 Family Ebeling Icecream Shop, Wolperode 50, ☏ 49 5382 958472. Set in a quiet farm location, the ice cream café is a popular meeting place. The delicious farm ice cream comes from their own milk and fruit from the garden. They have ever changing seasonal sundae and delicious creations on offer. Opening Hours vary due to the time of the year. 

Mid-range

• 4 Rosencafe, Brunshausen 7, ☏ 49 5382 3144. Tu-Su 14:00-18:00. The cafe is set in the atmospheric rooms of the monastery and the beautiful courtyard. They will cater for special occasions upon request. 
• 5 FLEXX, Hildesheimer Str. 2. Tu-Sa 11:00-14:00 & 17:00-20:00, Su 10:00-23:00. The place offers good German cuisine with a seasonal changing menu. from €10. 
• 6 Gaststätte zur Ecke, Markt 2 (City centre 20 mtrs from collegiate church), ☏ 49 5382 4262. Daily 09:30-13:00. A cozy family run pub in the heart of bad Gandersheim. Sporting events available for viewing. 
• 7 Pizzeria Napoli, Markt 3. Daily 11:30-15:00 and 17:00-23:00. An Italian resaturant offering good Mediterranean cuisine in the centre of town very near to the cathedral. Tables can be booked and rooms can be hired for sepcial parties etc. from €5. 
• 8 Hof-Altgandersheim, Altgandersheim, Rük 7, ☏ 49 5382 58188. Su 12:00-18:00, other times for group bookings on request. Choose from either à la carte menu with German and French cuisine, served brunches, multiple course set menus, buffets, or the specialty of the House "Food of the ocean". Grill buffets can be reserved. 

Drink

• 1 Irish Pub Am Dom, Fronhof 2, ☏ 49 5382 955646. Irish pub. 
• 2 Ratsbrauhaus, Markt 10, ☏ 49 5382 1061. Home made beer, daily buffet. 
• 3 Tanzcafe Gino, Roswithastraße 27. Tu - Sa from 19:00. Dance cafe. A great place to drink, dance and have fun. 

Sleep

• 1 DCC Spa Camping Park, Braunschweiger Str. 12. Spacious pitches - sanitary building with wheelchair disabled facilities. Book out-patient spa treatments or our wellness & vital Park offers and stay in your own caravan. Riding is available on the nearby riding school "Eterna". Package deals for short treatments are available. Open all year round. 
• 2 Rio Gande (Exit 67 on the A7, take B248 then B64 for 10 km then take B445 and follow signs for town centre, follow signs for town centre and moblie home park), ☏ 49 5382 1595. Location: On the small river of Gande, right on the edge of the historic centre, accessible from the street "An der Wiek", next to the parking lot of Rudolf Cahn of souls Stadium. Separate space for campers, quiet location in the countryside, close to the Centre. Up to 2 minutes walking to the marketplace. Maximum of 3 days stay is allowed. Shopping and restaurants 200 m away. The web site offers a full list of amenities. €7 per night. 
• 3 Koehlers Guest House, Altgandersheim, Rük 18, ☏ 49 5382 5212. Family guest house, with restaurant. 
• 4 Gästehaus Bartsch, Petristr. 4, ☏ 49 5382 98280. The guest house provides parking and garage space. Rooms with balconies are available. A direct-dial telephone is located in each room. Close to the town and the countryside. Cyclists welcome. from €24.50-34.50. 
• 5 Hotel garni Gerichtsschänke, Burgstraße 10, ☏ 49 5382 9801-0. Check-in: after 11:00, check-out: before 12:00. Half-timber framed family-run hotel with 35 beds. Located in the centre of town. from €64. 
• 6 Hotel Waldschlößchen, Dr.-Heinrich-Jasper-Straße 13, ☏ 49 5382 2649. This is a family-run hotel set away from the local traffic, on the mountain directly in front of the forest. Ideal for rest and recreation. A big car park for cars and buses is available right outside the hotel. A la carte restaurant with local specialties. €38-65. 

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