Große und Kleine Golke

Useful Information

Location:	Bad Langensalza. A4 motorway exit Gotha, B247 via Gotha 24 km to Bad Langensalza. In the town, turn onto the B84 and leave Langensalza through the hamlet of Ufhoven. After leaving the town, the springs are located on the right on the banks of the Salza in a small wood. (51.0923419, 10.6196453)
Open:	no restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Karst spring,
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	Große Golke: Yavg=240 l/s. Kleine Golke: Yavg=120 l/s.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Touristinformation, Bei der Marktkirche 11, 99947 Bad Langensalza, Tel: +49-3603-834424. E-mail:
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

1537	first written mentioned of the Große Golke.
1938	The surrounding forest was placed under nature conservation.
1996	Brine discovered.

Description

The Große and Kleine Golke in Langensalza in the district of Ufhoven are rather small and inconspicuous springs, but nevertheless have a considerable amount of water. As they are not enclosed and fortified like many other springs on these pages, this is a great opportunity to see a karst spring in its natural form. The water rises from the bottom of the 4 metre deep, deep blue spring pool. Sand-filled crevices are reminiscent of small volcanoes, as the sand is constantly thrown up by the outflowing water. The sand is a result of this constant movement, which quickly grinds the loose material into fine sand. At the same time, the sand also prevents divers from exploring the karst crevices. The catchment area of the springs is the nearby Hainich.

The two springs are the sources of the Salza, together with the rather small streams Hellerbach and Zimmernbach. The spring water flows only a few metres before immediately flowing into the still young Salza. People settled near the springs as early as prehistoric times. The stream was later called Salzaha and finally Salza. It is thought that the water used to taste of salt due to its particularly high salt content. In 1996, brine was discovered during deep drilling work in Bad Langensalza. The reason for this is the Zechstein salts, which formed a diapir as they rose, which also caused the Hainich to bulge. It is not known why this salt content no longer exists today.

The springs are also the reason for the existence of Langensalza travertine. In the centre of Langensalza, to the north-west of the railway station, there is still a travertine factory on Poststraße.

There are several small lakes along the B84, most of which, on closer inspection, are springs; sometimes a small weir has been added to dam up the lake. The main spring is the Große Golke, which is located in the forest behind the Bad Langensalza waterworks. There is a hiking trail and you are allowed to visit the spring, but unfortunately this is a little complicated. In particular, the area is a nature reserve and it is not permitted to leave the paths, and the waterworks is fenced off and the access road is closed, so there are no parking spaces available. We recommend driving 50 metres further and parking on the dirt road that branches off there, please do not obstruct agricultural traffic. From here, you can walk between the edge of the forest and the fence around the waterworks and reach the Große Golke or Untere Golke. The other spring can be reached by following the dirt track where you parked for about 400 metres, crossing the Salza on the bridge and then turning right.