Großlohra

Großlohra
Municipality
Coat of arms
Location of Großlohra within Nordhausen district
Municipal assoc.		Hainleite
Government
• Mayor (2020–26)	Gerald Grabe[1]
Area
• Total	18.29 km2 (7.06 sq mi)
Elevation	310 m (1,020 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)[2]
• Total	849
• Density	46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	99759
Dialling codes	036338
Vehicle registration	NDH

Großlohra is a municipality in the district of Nordhausen, in Thuringia, Germany, situated on the northern edge of the Hainleite ridge about 20 km (12 mi) southwest of the district capital. It consists of the settlements of Friedrichslohra, Großwenden, Kleinwenden, as well as Münchenlohra with its former convent basilica St. Gangulphus and castle Lohra with its accompanying manor (Amt Lohra), all of which were united in 1950.

Geography

Castle Lohra overlooks the gap between the Dün and Hainleite ridges, being situated on the northwesternmost spur of the latter. Historically, it guarded an important connection between Mühlhausen and the Halle-Kassel trade route in the Wipper valley, whose current incarnation is the Bundesautobahn 38. It was also a strategically important vantage point overlooking the plains between Hainleite and Harz.^{[citation needed]}

History

The site of castle Lohra had presumably already been fortified in

until 1977. Today, it is held by a non-profit organisation which rents the residential quarters to tourist groups and oversees the conservation and restoration of the castle. A special architectural feature is the double chapel, containing a chapel for public services on the lower floor and an additional oratory for private worship of the ruling family on the upper floor.

The names of Großwenden and Kleinwenden point to originally

in 1546. Initial restoration of the basilica was undertaken by the Prussian state in the 19th century and is further maintained until the present day.

Friedrichslohra was a settlement initiated under the reign of

were undertaken, including a short-lived forced labour and education house.

References