Discover Greußen: History, the Helbe and the outdoor pool

Greußen lies at the foot of the southern slope of the Hainleite in the Thuringian Basin, in an agricultural area. The town can be explored through several distinct themes: the arrangement of the squares around the town hall, traces of its history, the listed Helbe system and the outdoor pool. If you are looking for accommodation in Greußen, these interests can shape your choice of destination. If your main aim is to discover local history and the townscape, you will focus on different things than if you are also planning a visit to the outdoor pool. The following stops give you a concrete basis for deciding how Greußen fits your travel interests.

Townscape and traces of history

Greußen’s long market square lies on one side of the town hall, with Töpfermarkt on the other. The town hall is therefore a clear landmark for finding your way around the town centre. Preserved sections of the town wall show a double Zwingermauer, though they are considerably lower than they once were. The filled-in town moat is bordered by a green belt and, in places, lined with small gardens. The townscape thus brings together different forms of historical traces: structural remains and a green space, partly bordered by gardens.

Museum, memorial and local history

Since September 2008, the Greußen Local History Museum has been housed in the town hall. It was modernised and expanded on the basis of Paul Lürmann’s extensive collection. Its location and the history of its collection provide a specific starting point for exploring local history. A different, sombre chapter is commemorated by the memorial erected in 1990 in the grounds in front of the State Regelschule, formerly the Bürgerschule. It commemorates the first victims of Stalinism in Greußen in 1945/1946 and names 38 affected “Greußener Jungs”; 24 of them died at the Sachsenhausen Special Camp.

The “Greußener Schweinchen” (“Greußen Piglet”) also stands beside the town hall: an enlarged replica of a Germanic cult figure found near Greußen and dating from 200 to 300 AD. The distinction between the original artefact and the replica is part of this distinctive detail in the townscape. The Protestant Church of St Martin is largely in its present form the result of rebuilding after the great town fire of 1687, using remnants of the earlier building. The church organ was made by Tobias Gottfried and Heinrich Gottfried Trost between 1701 and 1704.

The Helbe system and the outdoor pool

The listed Helbe system adds an engineering and water-management theme to the town’s history. The River Helbe runs through its centre; to the north is the artificial Schwarzburger Helbe channel, and to the south the artificial Sächsische Helbe channel. The system dates back to the 13th century. Its layout makes clear that it is not a single river course, but a system consisting of the central river and two artificial channels. The cardinal directions help distinguish the three components.

The outdoor pool in Greußen offers a different kind of travel experience. It has a waterslide and a volleyball court, as well as separate non-swimmers’ and swimmers’ pools. Facilities also include a 3-metre diving tower, two 1-metre springboards and starting blocks. The pools, diving facilities, slide and volleyball court offer different ways to enjoy a visit to the outdoor pool. If you plan to include a visit in your trip, check the seasonal opening times in advance.

Discover more destinations

Westgreußen, Sondershausen, Helbedündorf, Steinthaleben, Wiehe, Heldrungen, Oldisleben, Bendeleben

For the overview of the wider area: Kyffhäuserkreis.