Neues Gradierwerk, Tourist attraction in Bad Rothenfelde, Germany
The Neues Gradierwerk is a large wooden structure in the Kurpark of Bad Rothenfelde, Germany. It consists of a long framework of timber posts packed with blackthorn branches, over which brine slowly trickles down from top to bottom.
The Neues Gradierwerk was built in 1824, following earlier saltworks that had operated in Bad Rothenfelde since 1777. The brine springs in the area had been known since 1724, and the whole complex was originally created purely to produce salt.
The Gradierwerke are closely tied to the identity of Bad Rothenfelde as a spa town, and locals still refer to them as the heart of the Kurpark. Walking through the long inhalation passage beneath the structure, visitors feel the salty air on their skin and hear the steady sound of dripping water.
The structure sits inside the Kurpark and is easy to reach on foot from the town center. A long passage runs through the inside of the building where the air is noticeably salty, so wearing comfortable closed shoes is a good idea.
After dark during the summer months, the surface of the Gradierwerke becomes a screen for light art, with images projected across hundreds of meters of blackthorn branches. The rough, uneven surface of the walls means the same image looks different depending on where you stand.
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