Bad Salzdetfurth: Salt History, Old Town and Trails

Salt history and special insights

The two graduation towers in the spa gardens provide a striking focal point for the town’s salt history. The Bad Salzdetfurth Mining and Salt Museum also displays exhibits on mining and local history, as well as minerals and rocks from every continent. The collections therefore bring together local subjects and a selection that extends far beyond the town’s history. The Mining and Salt Museum at the saltworks also brings to life the journey of the mineral from the underground tunnels to the surface—an experience explicitly intended for the whole family.

For a different way to experience the subject of salt, there is the Bad Salzdetfurth Salt Cave: a visit lasts 45 minutes, during which visitors can relax on loungers or a salt bed. The town thus offers several different ways to engage with salt: the graduation towers in the spa gardens, museum exhibits and a visit to the salt cave.

Old town and Water and Salt Trail

The historic old town lies in a narrow valley at the foot of the Hildesheim Forest and Sothenberg hills. Half-timbered houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries line the Lamme. This gives the old town a distinct historic character: in addition to the history of salt and mining, discovering the town also means exploring the period in which these houses were built. The Water and Salt Trail is represented by eight information boards in the spa gardens and the old town. Those interested in water and salt will find points of interest in both locations to explore Bad Salzdetfurth’s connection with these themes.

A children’s rally also takes visitors through the old town. It was originally developed for the Old Town Festival and is now a permanent offering. Its origins and present-day format make it a distinctive way to explore the old town. Families can also enjoy adventure golf in the spa gardens, with 18 different holes. These activities are quite different from a museum visit or looking at historic houses; which ones you make time for during your holiday depends on whether you would rather play together, discover the town or explore its history.

Circular hiking trails and time in the spa gardens

There are ten waymarked circular hiking trails in Bad Salzdetfurth. They are between three and 13 kilometres long and start and finish at the Kulturbahnhof. The range of trail lengths gives you a practical starting point for planning your day: you can consider in advance which distance will suit your holiday schedule. If you would rather spend time outdoors without following a designated circular route, you can take a walk in the spa gardens.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Bad Salzdetfurth, you can first decide what kind of stay you are looking for: would you like to focus on the old town, with its half-timbered houses, rally and themes of water and salt? Are you particularly interested in mining, minerals and local history? Or would you like to include waymarked circular hiking trails in your days? The trail distances of three to 13 kilometres and the shared starting and finishing point at the Kulturbahnhof provide concrete details to help you plan. The spa gardens, old town and salt cave add further, varied experiences to the choices available.

More destinations: Hildesheim, Alfeld, Hoyershausen, Brüggen, Harsum, Rheden, Diekholzen and Nettlingen.

Back to the main travel guide: Hildesheim.