Walking the Geo- and Pleasure Trail "From Beer to Bratwurst"
They would have been quite envious: the Tambach lovers, the Ruhla bryozoa and the Giant Mayfly of Bad Tabarz. Little is known of the dining culture of these ancient creatures. It is however, common knowledge today that beer and bratwurst are an essential part of Thuringian dining culture.
The Geo-and Pleasure Trail “From Bratwurst to Beer” is quite different from the other 16 GeoTours. Here the emphasis lies not so much in the geological development of our Earth, but rather focuses on what the soil produces. For example hops and barley. This is where geology meets pleasure albeit with a little tongue in cheek. The soil is the link between geology and the enjoyable products. As such it plays the main part on the Geo-and Pleasure Trail. Several large sculptures by the artist Christoph Hodgson from Arnstadt have been installed along the trail to give beer and bratwurst the spatial dimension they desrve.
This enjoyable trail starts at the town brewery (Stadtbrauerei) in Arnstadt. It was here in 1617 that the first wheat beer was brewed outside of Bavaria. However, the first official records of brewing in Arnstadt date from 1407. Bratwurst was mentioned for the first time anywhere here in Arnstadt in 1404. This can be seen on a wood relief in Arnstadt Abbey. As if there were not enough “firsts” here, the musical genius Johann Sebastian Bach married for the first time in the small village church in Dornheim (near Arnstadt). In 1707 he exchanged wedding vows with Maria Barbara, a second grade cousin. When she died in 1720, Bach married the soprano Anna Magdalena in Köthen.
PS: There is even a saurian, which has been named after the tasty Thuringian bratwurst: Tambachia trogallas (literally: “the sausage eating saurian”). A reconstruction of this little animal can be seen along the Saurian Discovery Trail (GeoRoute 6).
Fascinating views
The Geo- and Pleasure Trail provides fascinating views in all directions, over the Thuringian castle landscape Drei Gleichen, the mountains of the Thuringian Forest as well as across Arnstadt and Erfurt. The thrill of the walk is enhanced by the rich diversity of wayside flora and fauna, which includes many rare species.
Guided tours along the trail are an excellent way for groups and individual walkers to experience one of the most beautiful cultural landscapes of Thuringia.
There are 15 discovery stations along the trail, each of which holds a surprise in the form of a special model or an unusual structure:
1. Giant beer at the Hotel park Stadtbrauerei Arnstadt
2. Castle ruins Neideck Arnstadt
3. Arnstadt market place
4. Giant spoon, historic sandstone sculpture
5. Giant hop flower in the former hop-growing area
6. Gravel pit Haarhausen
7. Giant beet
8.-9. Bratwurst circle Holzhausen with Giant Bratwurst
10. Giant Grill
11. Giant crosier at the Jungfrau Abbey
12. Giant vine
13. Giant herbs at the Eulenberg
14. Giant fruit basket at the Eulenberg
15. Giant corn ear at the Pfennigsberg
Audio-Guide "From Beer to Bratwurst“
The Audioguide “From Beer to Bratwurst” is your digital trail guide for the Geo- and Pleasure Trail. At each of the following stations it will tell you interesting details and facts about the history of the region, the geological features, as well as general culinary information and specifically about the Thuringian roasting culture. . Who actually invented wheat beer? Was the first Thuringian Bratwurst made in Arnstadt? Is Arnstadt the oldest town in Thuringia? The audioguide will provide some amusing but also scientifically based answers to many of your questions – every day of the year.
You can download or listen to the Audio-Guide for this location here.
The Audio-Guide "From Beer to Bratwurst“ comprises 11 listening stations. You will find a large green/white sticker with the words "Audio-Guide“ at each station. Now you have two options for starting the listening station on your smartphone/mobile phone.
To use the first option you will need a smartphone with a camera and a QR-Code Reader. Simply scan the QR-Code with the QR-Code Reader to run the corresponding MP3 file for the station. Now you can listen to the file and fast forward and reverse to sections of particular interest. Note: mobile data transfer is required for downloading the MP3-files. Free QR-Code Reader s are available from the App Store and Google Play Store.
The second option does not require a smartphone and can be implemented with any mobile phone. Take your mobile phone and call the landline 03628 5886645. Our Audio-Guide will begin in the main menu. All you have to do now is to enter the three digit object number and the corresponding listening station will start. You will find the object number on the sticker as well as in our prospectus and hiking map for the "Geo- and Pleasure Trail". A connection fee to the German landline will apply for this option.