The state-recognised brine spa Bad Gandersheim is located on the western edge of the Harz Mountains. The town became famous for the Saxon imperial abbey founded in 852. It is considered the original home of the Ottonian imperial family and the place where the first German poet Roswitha lived and worked.
While walking through the town, you'll come across half-timbered houses from various centuries, abbey buildings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as the historic market square with its ensemble of half-timbered houses and the Romanesque abbey church. The permanent exhibition Portal to History presents the development of the town and the story of the abbey. It is partly housed in the former abbey church and partly in the Brunshausen Monastery complex. There, you can discover numerous exhibits about the history and treasures of the imperial abbey.
In summer, the Romanesque walls of the abbey church form the backdrop for the Gandersheim Cathedral Festival. The performances combine a historical setting with modern theatre and are aimed at visitors of all ages.
Just a few minutes from the town centre lies the spa, health and recreation district of the health resort. Since the spa was founded in 1878, the local brine has been used for healing purposes.
