Salzmuseum Bad Sooden-Allendorf

Useful Information

Location:	Söder Tor, Rosenstraße 1-3, 37242 Bad Sooden-Allendorf. In the town centre, not far from the tourist information office. (51.2691274, 9.9655533)
Open:	APR to OCT Wed, Sat, Sun, Hol 14-17. NOV to MAR Sat, Sun, Hol 14-17. [2026]
Fee:	Adults EUR 1, Children (6-16) EUR 0,50, Children (0-5) free. [2026]
Classification:	Salt Mine
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Salzmuseum Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Söder Tor, Rosenstraße 1-3, 37242 Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Tel: +49-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1554	Landgrave Philip grants the Allendorf an der Werra salt works its own coat of arms, Fürstensoth.
1906	Salt works shut down.
1913	City fathers decide to preserve the existing equipment.
1974	Local history association founded with salt museum interest group.
NOV-1979	Salt museum opens in Södertor.

Geology

Description

The Salzmuseum Bad Sooden-Allendorf (Bad Sooden-Allendorf Salt Museum) is not a show mine, yet it is closely related to salt mining. Salt can be extracted by using a brine spring where groundwater comes into contact with salt, dissolving it and then emerging with a high salt content in a spring. No miners are needed here, only salt boilers who boil down the brine to extract the salt. If at some point the spring dries up or is no longer sufficient, it may be necessary to drill a borehole to bring more water into contact with more salt. The museum is also known as the Salt Museum in the Södertor because it is located in the historic city gate and its adjoining building.

The historic buildings in Bad Sooden, which were also used for salt production, are also listed buildings and are more or less part of the museum. They form a kind of open-air museum or themed trail. These include the brine drilling tower, the graduation tower and the brine bathing hut, the well chamber, the operating trench with art house, the penny room and finally the salt office with salt table. The buildings are equipped with informative panels, allowing visitors to explore the salt works on foot.