Georgsmarienhütte is located in the Teutoburg Forest in the state of Lower Saxony. It can be found about four miles away from the major city of Osnabrück.
Georgsmarienhütte’s reputation as an “iron city” goes back to 1856. This is the time that the first iron and steel works was erected. King George V of Hanover gave it its name, an amalgamation of his own and his wife’s, Marie. And so this town was born.
Iron and steel are still vitally important to its economy, with several thousand residents employed in the industry. The company of Georgsmarienhütte lost its name over the years, but its current incarnation (Jürgen Großmann) is one of the preeminent European steel producers.
Such emphasis on heavy metals would make you think that quiet and relaxation would be hard to find here. But it’s simply not true. Its location in the dense forest makes it perfect for silence and solitude.
With peace and quiet in mind, be sure to visit the historical highlight of Georgsmarienhütte, the Benedictine convent of Oesede. One of the more unusual features, which can be found in the old church, is a hagioscope. This hagioscope is a small viewing hole in the outside of the church that allows you to look inside. It was made so that lepers, who were of course highly contagious, could still attend the church ceremonies.
The Teutoburg Forest is another place you can escape to for some calm. But this was not always the case! The forest was formerly a battlefield between the ancient Romans and Germanic tribes over two thousand years ago.
The forest serves a different role these days. Just by the convent, you can find Georgsmarienhütte’s Forest Stage. With the dark woods as a beautiful backdrop, this outdoor theater puts on various different performances, from musicals to fairy tales to Shakespeare.
