Schöningen

In archaeology, Schöningen is famous for four ancient wooden spears found in an opencast mine near the town (Bamford & Henderson 2003). The spears are about 400,000 years old (Klein. 2005. p114), making them the world's oldest human-made wooden artifacts, as well as the oldest weapons, ever found. Three of them were probably manufactured as projectile weapons, because the weight and tapered point is at the front of the spear making it fly straight in flight, similar to the design of a modern javelin. The fourth spear is shorter with points at both ends and is thought to be a thrusting spear or a throwing stick (Bamford & Henderson 2003). They were found in combination with the remains of about 20 wild horses, whose bones contain numerous butchery marks, including one pelvis that still had a spear sticking out of it. This is considered proof that early humans were active hunters with specialized tool kits.
The first historical mentioning of the Saxon settlement in the Royal Frankish Annals dates back to 747, when the Carolingian Pepin the Short stayed here during the conflict with his half-brother Grifo. Schöningen was the site of a Königspfalz of Pepin's son Charlemagne and later of the Ottonian dynasty. Saint Willigis, Archbishop of Mainz from 975, was probably born at Schöningen about 940.
From the 14th century it was held by the Welf dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who granted Schöningen town privileges in 1332. About 1350 Duke Magnus the Pious had a castle built here to secure the nearby border with the Bishopric of Halberstadt.

By plane

• Airport Hannover-Langenhagen (HAJ, 101km)
• Magdeburg-Cochstedt International (CSO, 53km)
• Leipzig/Halle (LEJ, 168km)
• Frankfurt Airport (FRA, 380km)

By train

Inter City to Helmstedt. KVG Coach to Schöningen.

By bus

By car

A2 to Helmstedt. Exit 63-Helmstedt-Ost . Right on to B1 (Traffic sign : Braunschweig/​Königslutter/​Helmstedt/​Schöningen). Left on to B244. Distance to Schöningen 9.7 km.

Car Rental

• Autohaus Christoph Seydel

  phone: +49 5352 9495-0
  address: Alversdorfer Weg 5

• Basse Autovermietung

  phone: +49 5352 1801
  address: Weinbergstraße 1

Bicycle Rental

• Schließer Bike

  phone: +49 5352 - 8866
  address: Wilhelmstr. 10

• Paläon

  address: Paläon 1

• Schloss Schöningen

  address: Burgpl. 1
  14th century hall

• St. Lorenz Church

  address: Klosterfreiheit 9c
  14th century

• Local History Museum

  address: Schulstraße
  build 1593

• St. Vincent church

  address: Niedernstraße 47

• City Hall overlooks the town square, the place of Schöningen’s weekly market (Wednesdays and Saturdays 8am-12n). Here’s a great opportunity to buy some delicious fruits & veggies, colorful flowers, and wonderful souvenirs for your journey home.
• So much of Schöningen is best explored outside. Right on the edge of the forest is a wonderful golf course. Though, if you’re not so inclined to play the links, there’s always the pool & sauna to relax in. Though, that might be a better idea to do after you’ve gone out and done the hiking & biking thing through the Lower Saxon countryside.
• St. Lawrence - a different golf club. Well above the visible church of St. Lawrence on the edge of the Elms extend the fairways of the Golf and Country Club St. Lawrence, one of which has beautiful views in the Magdeburg region up to the resin. The difference from other golf clubs is' That certain something of St. Lawrence, "a blend of the unique location of the place, nestled in the beautiful countryside, near its namesake, the ancient monastery of good St. Lawrence, whose cobblestone manor and the underlying park-like Gutsgarten. For this purpose, the listed, hundreds of years ago from Elmkalkstein built farm buildings, where there is now also the cozy clubhouse. In this particular setting puts it, what is rarely found today: sports, culture, history and landscape that are close together.
• Elm Lappwald Nature Park bicycle tours.

• Reit- und Fahrverein Schöningen

  phone: +49 5352 59094
  address: Augustastr. 16
  Horseback riding - Riding arena (50x20m), large equestrian center site at the quarry near the youth hostel

• ... wie in Oma´s Küche

  phone: +49 5352 50241
  address: Wellmannstraße 1
  German cooking. Insider's diner # 1, very friendly service, consistently good food.

• Akropolis

  phone: +49 5352 1879
  address: Salzstraße 14
  tastes almost better than in Greece. Tasteful interior, very friendly service, fast turnaround.

• Schloss-Restaurant

  phone: +49 5352 907590
  address: Burgplatz 1
  German & Italian kitchen, friendly service, good special occasion restaurant. Groups, Seminars & Weddings.

• Cherrywine Ranch

  phone: +49 5352 3178
  address: Zum Waldfrieden

• Kanzlerkeller

  phone: +49 5352 8252
  address: Burgplatz 3
  German cooking in a nice place. Service is medium grade, so is the cooking.

• Deutsches Haus

  phone: +49 5352 2589
  address: Hötensleber Straße 3
  German coooking at its best. Very friendly service, nice place, very rich menu to choose from, excellent for larger groups.

• Irodion

  phone: +49 5352 2201
  address: Markt 26
  Greek Restaurant, the place is clean but needs an upgrade. Very friendly service, some of the ingredients overwhelming, all in all a fair share for the inexpensive meal.

• Kurhaus

  phone: +49 5352 3181
  address: Bahnhofstraße 13
  in a nice neighborhood. Very popular for weddings, birthday celebrations but also for society. The guests are mostly from the region. Cozy atmosphere.

• Ratskeller

  phone: +49 5352 969789
  address: Markt 1
  German upscale cooking in City Hall's basement - a warm, sophisticated atmosphere is a pleasant backdrop for an evening or an elegant dinner. And there are sophisticated menus and dishes, excellent beers and excellent wines on the cards.

• Orient-Imbiß

  phone: +49 5352 8795
  address: Niedernstraße 19
  the Orient has an entire variety of food. Gyros, Döner, Pizza, Chicken, Fish and a kids menu. Catering. Clean and friendly service.

• Sportschänke

  phone: +49 5352 3080
  address: Alte Kirchstraße 1 a
  German Kitchen: Schnitzel, fish and salad. Friendly service.

• Bistro Antalya

  phone: +49 5352 9062816
  address: Markt 25
  German, Italian and oriental food. Moderately priced and in the center of town.

• Elmhaus

  phone: +49 5352 4860
  address: Singplatzweg (Elmrand)

• Waldfrieden

  phone: +49 5352 3178
  address: Zum Waldfrieden 1, Schöningen-Esbeck

• Cafe & Bistro Negenborn

  phone: +49 5352 9 37 37 77
  address: Negenborntrift 25

Hotels

• Deutsches Haus

  phone: +49 5352-2589
  address: Hötensleber Straße 3

• Schloss Schöningen

  phone: +49 5352-907590
  address: Burgplatz 1a

• Hotel Zeitreise

  phone: +49 5352-9099165
  address: Am Wallgarten 12

Pensions

• Pension „Schäferstübchen“

  phone: +49 5352-2242
  address: Schäferbreite 31a

• Pension M. Scholz

  phone: +49 5352-2793
  address: Hinter dem Kreuze 21, Hoiersdorf

• Haus Pientok

  phone: +49 39061-98290
  address: Hötensleberstraße 34

B&B

• Ferienwohnung "Am Markt"

  phone: +49 5352 3625
  address: Markt 18

• Fam. Bernitt

  phone: +49 170 7797764 (mobile)
  address: Nicolaistr. 3

• Haus Grund

  phone: +49 5352-2279
  address: Markt 5

Youth Hostels (YMCA)

• Jugendherberge Schöningen

  phone: +49 5352-3898
  address: R.-Schirrmann-Str. 6a

Rental

• Private Zimmervermietung

  phone: +49 152-53151563 (mobile)
  address: Negenbornsiedlung 3

• Haus Grund

  phone: +49 5352-227
  address: Markt 5

• Elm Lappwald
• Königslutter
• Helmstedt
• Oschersleben
• Halberstadt
• Wolfenbüttel