Friemar: Spring, Reservoir and Symbolic Hearth

Rieth Spring and the Nesse

The Rieth Spring emerges directly below the dam. After just a few metres, the trickle from the small enclosed spring flows into the Nesse. Tourist signposts point to its source. This makes for a short sequence: spring, trickle and the Nesse. If you are interested in small landscape features, Friemar offers a connection to water that can be explored at these specific stops.

The reed belt at the Immertal Reservoir

A clear access restriction applies at the Immertal Reservoir in Friemar: the eastern and northern shores are designated as the “Friemar Reservoir Reed Belt” nature monument covering an area and may not be entered. Take this restriction into account when planning your visit. The designation and the prohibition apply specifically to these shores; they are an important part of finding your way around the reservoir.

Friemar’s “cradle”

Friemar’s “cradle” is said to lie on the fertile cultivated land to the left of the Nesse, where the soils consist of Keuper and black earth. A bench there invites visitors to linger. In front of it, a symbolic replica of a historic hearth dating from 650 BC is set into the ground. The hearth is therefore presented as a representation, while the “cradle” is located at this site. The date 650 BC refers to the historic hearth that is symbolically recreated.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Friemar, these local points of interest can help you narrow down your choice of destination: the Rieth Spring and the Nesse, the reservoir with its protected shore zone, or the symbolic hearth each offer a different focus. Consider which of these themes you would most like to shape your stay.

More to explore in the wider Gotha destination

The wider Gotha destination offers further landscape and cultural attractions. Gotha district extends south to the Rennsteig and west to the Großer Inselsberg, which rises to 916.5 metres. The Marienglashöhle Friedrichroda adds a geological highlight: its 110-metre-long tunnel passes geological windows that reveal rock layers millions of years old. Gypsum crystals up to 90 centimetres long sparkle in the Crystal Grotto.

Another landscape attraction in the wider Gotha destination is the Old Gotha Dam near Tambach-Dietharz, which today is primarily a recreational destination. The Thuringian Forest Railway offers another regional connection, running from Gotha via Waltershausen and Friedrichroda to Tabarz. If this route is relevant to your plans, check the current timetable.

The cultural attractions also offer a range of points of interest. The Ekhof Theatre in Gotha was founded in 1775 by Duke Ernst II as Germany’s first court theatre. The painting “Gothaer Liebespaar” is housed in the Ducal Museum. In Wechmar, the Bach Stammhaus displays models of the original places where the Bach family worked. On Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday, visitors are invited to a Bach-style coffee gathering; check the current dates if you plan to attend.

Many hiking trails, including the Benedictine Path and the Zöglingsweg, lead to Tenneberg Castle. Its puppet museum continues to attract visitors from all over the world. The Three Gleichen castles were built between the 8th and 11th centuries. These regional attractions can be included in your holiday plans alongside Friemar’s own points of interest, without losing sight of the town’s distinctive features.

Discover more destinations: Emsetal, Schwabhausen, Gierstädt, Georgenthal/Thuringian Forest, Großfahner, Waltershausen, Friedrichswerth, Bufleben

Back to the wider travel overview: Gotha.