Once upon a time — no Humboldtsee
A bit of history about the formation of Humboldtsee with Waldhotel
From a barren landscape over more than 40 years grew a picturesque natural paradise: the four Duinger Lakes, whose wooded surroundings blossom in all colours throughout the year. This gem for hikers and nature lovers was born out of a wasteland. Until 1966 brown coal was still being mined here in open-pit operations. Hard to imagine that a lunar-landscape desolation once prevailed. The open-pit coal mine had dug 30 meters into the earth. On terraces small rail lines with ore cars carried the extracted coal to Thüste for briquette production.
A mounted forester discovered the “black gold” here in the mid-18th century and notified the Electoral Chamber of Hanover. But extraction did not begin until a century later, in 1843. In 1906 the Humboldt Mining Company took over the open-pit mine. When mining was discontinued in 1966 due to insufficient coal quality, a wasteland remained.
However, the Humboldt union was obligated to recultivate. With red alder trees as pioneer plants, reforestation began. Heavy crawler vehicles shaped a hilly landscape with four lakes, around which a mixed forest gradually grew. Persistent underground coal smoldering fires repeatedly made reforestation difficult.
Of the four lakes that today are the centre of the slowly grown natural paradise, Bruchsee with 10 hectares of water surface is the largest. At the second largest body of water, the Humboldtsee, there is a campsite. The Weinberger See and the Duck Pond are somewhat smaller and a paradise for many bird species. Above the Weinberger See there still stands a mighty cliff with a viewing platform. From there the view extends towards the Ith and to the small villages in the surrounding forelands. At the foot of the Ith the Saale river has its source. It was rerouted so that it flows through the Duinger Lakes.
The Nitsch family (Lothar Nitsch) acquired this part of the former mining grounds and recultivated about 3 hectares of forest land. Through the years they created comfortable hotel rooms, in which you, dear guests, can feel at ease and relax today.
Due to his age, Mr. Lothar Nitsch was no longer able to continue operating the hotel. On 1 September 2006 Mr. Ulrich Nitsch purchased the hotel property from his brother and, after further extensive investments, has successfully continued its operation.
As of 1 July 2024 the Brandt family took over the management of hotel and restaurant with the plan of fully integrating it into the campsite.
The hotel has been awarded ***s by the Dehoga.
We offer you a hall for up to 100 people, available at any time for family gatherings, club celebrations or conferences.
