Sea and mud

Mud spa town of Bad Lobenstein

A holiday by the sea in Thuringia? Yes, you did read that right. In Saaldorf, a district of Bad Lobenstein, you will find the 80-kilometre long “Saale cascade” with Germany’s biggest reservoir – the Thuringian Sea. After an active day on the water or on the varied hiking and cycling trails all around, you can look forward to rest, relaxation and mud in the ARDESIA thermal baths.

In the centre of the Thuringian Highlands / Upper Saale Nature Park is the small town of Bad Lobenstein. The Emperor Napoleon marched through the town in 1806, but there is no record of whether he enjoyed the sight of the colourful market activity, the castle sitting high above the town or the baroque palace with the adjoining spa gardens. The town only really became famous 60 years later thanks to its pleasant bracing climate, the discovery of iron mineral springs and a plentiful supply of bog mud – the iron mud spa opened in 1868. Today, Bad Lobenstein is the only state-recognised mud spa in Thuringia and invites you to spend your holiday here and relax around the Thuringian Sea.

Must-see: ARDESIA thermal baths

The healthy pulse of the mud spa is beating in the ARDESIA thermal baths. The name means “slate” in Italian and relates to the character of the region. Under the slogan “mud-water-light”, the thermal baths provide a bathing and wellness world for the whole family. Jet bubblers, a whirlpool and a steam room will revitalise you. For the Kneipp therapy, you can go in the warm and cold pools; children can play in the children’s pool with a boat canal. You can go through a sluice gate to the heated outdoor pool with a lazy river and an adjacent sunbathing area. Relax your mind and body in the sauna area. The slate sauna with a wood-burning stove and Thuringia’s only mud sauna are particularly recommended.

Water and hiking adventures by the Thuringian Sea

Do you want to do yoga, go diving, sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, standup paddleboarding, fishing, hiking or cycling… or just enjoy the day on the beach? Then the Thuringian Sea, Germany’s largest reservoir, is the right place for you. Near Bad Lobenstein, the “Saale cascade” extends over almost 80 kilometres with its idyllic bays, fjord-like river landscapes, rising rock faces and green forests all around. You can set off for the Thuringian Sea on foot or by bike from the thermal baths. The 11-kilometre circular route to the Heinrichstein is particularly popular. This sits on a cliff edge 120 metres above the Saale river and provides a picturesque view of the Bleiloch Reservoir. You can also explore the fascinating scenery from the water. From the Saaldorf district of Bad Lobenstein, a boat trip to Saalburg takes one hour. However, you can also disembark and re-embark at an earlier stop. And in the evening, you should enjoy the sunrise and round off your day by the sea with a good meal on a restaurant terrace.

Cultural tip / bad weather tip: Regional Museum with an ascent up to the “Old Tower” and a view over Lobenstein

An ascent that is truly worth it. From the market, you can go up the Burgberg, through the winding alleyways of the old town, to the town’s landmark, the 30-metre high “Old Tower”. The “castle keep”, which has been converted into a viewing tower, was part of a castle complex built between 950 and 1150 and provides a panoramic view over Bad Lobenstein and far beyond. The fact that you can only access the tower if you have passed through the Regional Museum in the former “Royal Office of the Head Forester” on Schlossberg is no disadvantage. On the contrary: in this imposing building, you can admire the town’s “first thermal bath”: a zinc bathtub with wooden steps. And you will also learn all kinds of interesting facts about the town’s history.

Culinary tip: Marktbrauerei – and a very special Moortrunk (mud drink)

Right by the market square, the “Marktbrauerei” hotel and restaurant is the perfect place for a pleasant break. As well as home-made Thuringian cuisine, you can enjoy beers and spirits from the hotel’s own brewery. Cheers. And if you want a light refreshment when you are on the move, you will find the legendary “Moortrunk” at the tourist information office. The chocolate egg liqueur based on Oma Friedel’s recipe comes from Helmsgrün, where the bog was once mined.

Tip from the medical pool attendant Eric Fischer: applications of the bog mud in the ARDESIA thermal baths

40 to 42°C. 20-minute mud cure in the tub. Wonderful. The liquid natural remedy surrounds your whole body. The pleasant, even heat will open up your pores, your muscles and connective tissue will relax, your self-healing capabilities will be stimulated. The 100-year-old Bad Lobenstein tradition of mud treatments with various possible applications is bcontinuing at the ARDESIA thermal baths. After your treatment, Eric Fischer recommends a soothing massage.

Cover: ©Florian Trykowski, Thüringer Tourismus GmbH