Helmstedt Travel Guide

 Kathrin_E Says:  Only one of the once four town gates is preserved, the Neumärker Tor in the west. The gate tower is also known as Hausmannsturm. Neumärker Straße, the street that leads through it, is Helmstedt’s main shopping street (but don’t expect too much, this is a small town).The... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The small separate building in the courtyard contains two chapels. The lower chapel is dedicated to St Peter and Paul, the upper chapel to St John Baptist. Legends tell that the lower chapel is of Carolingian origin and served as missionary chapel in the 9th century... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The 11th century crypt underneath the church is accessible from the courtyard of the convent underneath the northern transept. St Felicitas was the original patron saint of the abbey. The main church was later dedicated to St Ludgeri but the chapel in the crypt remained with... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The monastery complex is one of Helmstedt’s greatest architectural treasures after the Juleum. It was founded in the 9th century and always connected with the abbey of Werden in Essen, both were ruled by the same abbot. The abbey of St Ludgeri was an imperial abbey, thus not... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The most beautiful half-timbered house in the surroundings of St Stephani Church now serves as parsonage. It was built in 1580 for the Beguines, a Christian community of women which existed in Helmstedt already in the 14th century. 

 Kathrin_E Says:  St Stephani is the main parish church of old Helmstedt. It is located on the highest hilltop within the old town. The hill was turned into a platform and stabilized by a wall on the steep eastern side. The surrounding churchyard used to be the cemetery. One baroque burial... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  When walking into the old town from the train station, the large trinagular square (huh?) named Holzberg is probably the first you reach. It is used as a parking lot and full of cars. Watch your steps, as it is paved with cobblestone, only the sidewalks are a bit smoother.... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  After the opening of the university Helmstedt experienced a boom. Professors and students and other staff involved with the university moved into town. They needed housing. A lot of pretty houses, some half-timbered and some in stone, were built in the streets around the... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The town’s market square is rather unspectacular. Like Holzberg it is triangular, not square. The most interesting institution for visitors here is probably the tourist information. The southwestern corner is occupied by the town hall. A much older, probably medieval... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  Helmstedt is located in closest vicinity to the Iron Curtain, the infamous border that divided the two Germanies in Cold War times. The border is gone, the museum recalls this important aspect of German history. Highly recommended to those who have not experienced those... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  Already in the middle ages Helmstedt had a strong fortification with ramparts, moat and wall, eight towers and four gates. Parts of the wall are preserved in the southwest and northeast of the old town. On the northern and eastern side the moat is still filled with water.... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The most beautiful half-timbered house around market square has historical significance. Duke Julius used it as his “court camp”, i.e. temporary residence during his visits to the town. The so-called “Rohrsche Haus” was built in 1567 and decorated with elaborate... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The little museum in the basement of the main university building, aka Juleum Novum, presents a permanent exhibition about the history of town and university and the coal mines in the vicinity. Quite interesting to learn a bit about the place and its significance – if you... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  The beautiful palace-like building in the middle of the old town reminds us of Helmstedt's glorious past as a centre of science, theology and philosphy. Helmstedt was one of the early universities in Northern Germany. In 1568 Duke Julius of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel... 

 Sjalen Says:  As something that has meant so much to so many people, it was decided to keep a bit of the wall here so that we will never forget. For me, who saw the real thing when it was operational, it is incredible that you can now wander around freely where there used to be guards... 

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 Kathrin_E Says:  I would like to draw your attention to an interesting sculpture that deals with Nazi justice and the new beginning after the war. It can be found in closest vicinity to the Juleum Novum but is easily overlooked. This sculpture is standing in the yard of the law court west of... 

 Kathrin_E Says:  Actually the whole town of Helmstedt is "off the beaten path" so it is hard to divide the tips, but some places are even more hidden than others, so let's give it a start...The green spire of St Walpurgis is visible from many placesin the old twon but it is located rather on...