The best MTB trails around Bellstedt

The old bear pit in the Possen leisure and recreation park (near Sondershausen) was a traditional excursion destination for decades. Today it is no longer used as a classic pit. Luckily! The brown bears at Possen now live in a modern, species-appropriate expanded natural enclosure that was rebuilt in cooperation with the Foundation for Bears.

The church is the parish church of the Mühlhausen old town and was gifted to the Teutonic Order in 1227. The current building was constructed between 1270 and 1300 as an early Gothic hall church, influenced by French cathedral architecture. It possesses significant art-historical elements such as a rose window, medieval stained glass, a late Gothic carved altar, and tomb slabs of important personalities. After the Reformation, religious expressions changed, and much of the original furnishings were lost. The west towers still date from the predecessor building and house historical bells. The church also developed into an important center for Protestant church music, with a peak in the work of Johann Sebastian Bach in the early 18th century.

The old town of Mühlhausen is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Germany and is an important cultural and historical testimony. It is characterized primarily by its almost completely preserved city walls, numerous churches, and a dense network of historic streets and half-timbered houses. A striking feature of the old town is the impressive city fortifications with their towers and gates, which extend over several kilometers. To this day, they convey an impression of Mühlhausen's former importance as a free imperial city in the Middle Ages. Within these walls, a vibrant urban center developed, shaped by trade, crafts, and religious life. Particularly noticeable is the large number of churches, which is why Mühlhausen is often referred to as the "City of Churches." Among the most famous buildings are the Marienkirche, an impressive Gothic structure, and the Divi-Blasii-Kirche, which is closely associated with the work of Johann Sebastian Bach. These churches bear witness to the city's religious and cultural significance in past centuries. The old town also played an important role during the Reformation and the German Peasants' War. Particularly noteworthy is the reformer Thomas Müntzer, who worked in Mühlhausen and made the city a center of social and religious upheaval. In addition to the grand buildings, numerous well-preserved half-timbered houses, narrow alleys, and historic squares shape the cityscape. The central market square with the town hall forms the heart of the old town and remains an important meeting place to this day. Many buildings date from different centuries and show the architectural development of the city. Today, the old town of Mühlhausen is a popular destination for tourists and history enthusiasts. Museums, events, and guided tours offer an insight into the city's eventful past. At the same time, it is a living part of modern urban life, where history and the present are connected in a special way.

Old bear pit: very creepy, you can't get out of it on your own. A local resident told me that it was still "in operation" around 1950.

As a bear cage it is inhuman, as a lost place it is a dream.

All kinds of distractions for young and old.

When we finally arrived at the roundabout, we were amazed and delighted by the magnificent view. The Sondershausen roundabout is a semicircular structure built in 1910, with a World War II memorial dedicated in 1929, located on the Hainleite ridge. Located at 390 meters above sea level, it serves as a vantage point, including views of Sondershausen's town center and the Harz Mountains.

If you're looking for hustle and bustle, you've come to the right place.