Saalburg-Ebersdorf: Reservoir, Palace Park and History

When planning a stay in Saalburg-Ebersdorf, several topics are relevant: the dimensions of the Bleiloch Reservoir, the history of gardens in Ebersdorf, and historic landmarks in Saalburg and Friesau. They range from landscapes and park design to churches, memorial sites and an exhibition center.

Bleiloch Reservoir and regional context

The Bleiloch Reservoir is 28 kilometers long and has a water volume of 215 million cubic meters. Length and volume describe different scales: the first figure indicates the extent of the body of water, while the second indicates its water capacity. Within the broader travel destination of Saale-Orla, the Bleiloch Reservoir is considered Germany’s largest reservoir. In Saale-Orla, the Saale, with the approximately 80-kilometer-long Saale Cascade, which has been dammed five times, forms the largest contiguous reservoir area in Europe, known as the Thuringian Sea. This regional context complements the specific dimensions of the Bleiloch Reservoir without replacing them.

Park design in Ebersdorf

Ebersdorf Palace Park is a 50-hectare landscaped park. The later Saxon chief master builder Christian Friedrich Schuricht (1753–1832) is considered the creator of the enlarged palace garden. He also led the palace’s renovation from 1788 to 1791. Thus, alongside the park’s size, the garden’s design and the palace’s architectural history are also topics in their own right. Those interested in this history will find a different perspective here than in the dimensions of the reservoir.

Tree trail and woody plants

The tree trail in the palace park draws attention to the trees and the distinctive features of the woody plant species growing there. From spring 2016, visitors could learn more about them. Four ninth-grade students from the Bad Lobenstein secondary school developed and created the trail as a project. Small signs display photos and the names of the tree species, as well as QR codes; additional information can be accessed on a smartphone. The trail thus connects the park landscape with information about individual woody plants. Check the trail’s current condition before your visit.

Historic sites and landmarks

The “Johann Amos Comenius” Exhibition and Meeting Center is located in the former Brethren House of the Moravian congregation. In Saalburg, St. Mary’s Church was founded between 1206 and 1223; it is considered one of the oldest churches in the surrounding area. Friesau, a district of Saalburg-Ebersdorf, also preserves a specific landmark: St. Leonhart’s Church houses a communion chalice from 1509, made by Schleiz goldsmith Andreas Eckart.

Another dated chapter concerns the last Prince Reuss-Schleiz, his wife and two sons. Their coffins were transferred from the Bergkirche in Schleiz to Ebersdorf and interred in crypts in the park on August 6, 1931. The dates associated with the church, chalice and burial therefore span from the early 13th century to the 20th century, with the 1509 chalice in between. For trip planning, this offers a look at different historic landmarks, not just a single era.

Transfers around the reservoir

The hiking taxi offers flexible transfers along the Bleiloch Reservoir and around the Thuringian Sea, daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., in cooperation with four regional taxi companies. Confirm current service and booking availability before your trip. This allows you to take this option into account when planning without treating the stated operating hours as confirmation for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations:Triptis, Plothen, Schleiz, Peuschen, Stanau, Moßbach, Altengesees, Neundorf

For the overview of the wider travel area: Saale-Orla.