Another must-see for young and old visitors alike is Gotha’s zoo, located in the Seeberg nature reserve, which shows not only native, but also exotic species. It’s worth a visit every season of the year.
HERZOGLICHES MUSEUM
Exhibition of European and non-European art treasures from ancient times to modern times.
MUSEUM OF NATURE
“Animals in the Tower”, the first permanent exhibition of the Museum of Nature in the West Tower of Schloss Friedenstein, invites visitors to wonder and discover.
CASTLE PARK
The oldest garden in the English model on the continent
EKHOF-THEATRE
The oldest baroque theater in the world with still existing and functioning stage machinery.
Start and finish of the final stage
Located right where the Green Heart of Germany beats, the former princely residence of Gotha is a city with a special atmosphere and a splendid historical tradition. At 44,000 inhabitants, Gotha is today an important residential and business hub, served by federal motorway A 4 and Germany’s national railways.
The historic city centre and Friedenstein Castle, Germany’s largest compound of early baroque royal architecture, will leave their mark when you experience the city. In the middle of the first ever English garden landscape on the Continent, with the Orangerie, what is called “Gotha’s Baroque Universe” holds historic state apartments, three museums, the Ekhof Theatre and the castle church. In the autumn of 2013, another museum joined in, the Duke’s Museum, which presents splendours and collections that are simply unique.
The most famous sights of the city are not only the historic town hall, St Margret’s church, the Augustinian Monastery, the Tivoli, and the German Insurance Museum E. W. Arnoldi, but also something quite special: the casemates. Visitors can experience an underground tour of about 300 m through Central Germany’s most fortified defence from the baroque era. Recreation possibilities close by include the nature areas Seeberg with its “Old Observatory”, Krahnberg including its “Mountain Garden”, and Boxberg with its horse-racing course and riding-related leisure.
Picture & text source: City of Gotha www.KultourStadt.de