Neuengönna: Pulpit altar, baptismal angel and local history

Neuengönna’s cultural and historical character can be seen in specific themes: the church brings together a pulpit altar, a baptismal angel and carved elements featuring grape motifs; the local history room focuses on life in earlier generations and, in particular, the year 1806. Sacred art, craftsmanship and local history thus stand side by side as distinct points of interest.

Church: craftsmanship and historical details

Master craftsman Zacharias Richter from Neuengönna made the church’s pulpit altar in 1722. The baptismal angel is still in use today and probably comes from the same hand. This attribution therefore remains uncertain, whereas the year the pulpit altar was made is known precisely. The carved altar also has its own restoration history: it was restored in the 1970s and reinstated in 1982.

The sacristy contains carved elements featuring vine leaves and grapes. These motifs recall the area’s former history of winegrowing. The church’s details thus lead beyond its furnishings to another aspect of local history. Together, the pulpit altar, baptismal angel, carved altar and grape motifs offer various points of interest for anyone interested in religious art and craftsmanship.

The local history room and the year 1806

The Neuengönna local history room depicts life in the past, with a particular focus on the occupation by Napoleonic troops in 1806. This focus gives the exhibition a specific historical turning point. Alongside the church’s works of art, the lives and history of its people are therefore also at the heart of the display. Those choosing Neuengönna for particular interests during their stay can distinguish between sacred furnishings, craft details and a clearly highlighted period of local history.

Culture and landscapes in the wider Saale-Holzland destination

The wider Saale-Holzland destination offers other distinct cultural themes. The Dornburg Palaces form an ensemble of three palaces representing different stylistic periods. The Bauhaus Workshop Museum in Dornburg is housed in the Bauhaus’s former ceramics workshop, in the Marstall building of the Dornburg Palace complex. A permanent exhibition at the Bürgel Ceramics Museum illustrates the history of Bürgel pottery from its beginnings in the mid-17th century to the present day. An audio guide leads visitors to 22 stops in Bürgel and Thalbürgel; check its availability before your trip.

Other historical themes range from Camburg Castle to Kemenate Orlamünde. Camburg was first mentioned in a document in 1166; today, the only part of the castle complex still standing is the more than 30-metre-high keep. Camburg Town Museum displays exhibits ranging from Stone Age hand axes to tools and weapons from various cultural groups, as well as the town’s more recent history. An exhibition on local history is housed in Kemenate Orlamünde. Hummelshain Hunting Lodge was formerly a hunting residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Altenburg.

The wider Saale-Holzland destination also offers a range of themes for visitors planning a more landscape- or activity-focused trip. The Holzland is a hilly landscape with extensive woodland. The SaaleHorizontale runs north to south along the Saale through the Saale-Holzland district; the Saale Cycle Route also runs north to south along the Saale through the district. Their directions make it easy to distinguish the named routes as a hiking trail and a cycling route. Well-developed hiking routes also lead through the Zeitzgrund, and canoeing and inflatable-boat tours are among the most popular outdoor activities in the Saale-Holzland district.

The Gleistalhänge protected area is a natural attraction. It includes Beutnitz, Graitschen, Löberschütz, Poxdorf and Tautenburg; contains the former Poxdorfer Hang nature reserve; covers 277.02 hectares; and was designated on 27 August 1999. Visitors can therefore choose between different themes: Neuengönna’s church art and local history sit alongside the cultural, hiking and landscape attractions of the wider Saale-Holzland area.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Dornburg-Camburg, Serba, Mörsdorf, Heideland, Bad Klosterlausnitz, Weißenborn, Reichenbach, Großlöbichau.

Back to the main travel overview: Saale-Holzland.