Lake Burgsee

Lake Burgsee is one of the most beautiful places in Bad Salzungen. Situated directly at the historic old town, nature and experience, history and modernity come together here. The remains of the former Schnepfenburg castle give the panorama an incomparable atmosphere

Lake Burgsee goes back to the brine deposits below the town. Natural leaching of the Zechstein led to cavities, which collapsed and the funnel-shaped hollow filled with water. Lake Burgsee has no natural inflow and is fed by salty springs at the bottom and rain.

During a walk on the 1.15 kilometre long panorama path around the lake, you can relax and recharge your batteries with peace and quiet. Around Lake Burgsee there are many special buildings that characterise the town, including the listed "Haunsche Hof", the planetarium and the Kurhaus.

The "Schnepfenburg"

The lake owes its name to the medieval "Schnepfenburg", which was built in 1160 and fell victim to a devastating fire in 1786.

Because of its function as a ruler's residence and its location at the highest point of the town, the Schnepfenburg played a decisive role in the development of Bad Salzungen. After the city fire it disappeared from the cityscape.

Above ground, almost no structures of the castle are visible. On the foundation walls of the castle the today's administrative court building and the town church were built.

However, a four-metre-high remainder of the once 20-metre-high keep, the main tower of the castle, was uncovered. The keep was built around 1200 and probably served as a dungeon.