Oberhof, Germany
Encyclopedia
Oberhof is a town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen
district
of Thuringia
, Germany
. It is a winter sports center and health resort
. It is visited by tenfold as many tourists every year. The town got its official city status in 1985.
From the early 1900s, Oberhof became a center for winter sports, with luge
, nordic skiing
and ski jumping
taking place in the town's regularly updated sports facilities. In recent years the town has also seen the construction of lift-equipped alpine skiing
slopes and an international competition standard biathlon
stadium. Their bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
has hosted many world and European championships in luge.
In August 2009 the first German ski tunnel
opened in Oberhof.
with: Winterberg
, Germany Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany Lillehammer
, Norway
Schmalkalden-Meiningen
Schmalkalden-Meiningen is a Landkreis in the west of Thuringia, Germany. Its neighboring districts are the districts Wartburgkreis, Gotha, Ilm-Kreis, the district-free city Suhl, the district Hildburghausen, the Bavarian district Rhön-Grabfeld, and the district Fulda in Hesse.- History :The...
district
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is a winter sports center and health resort
Destination spa
A destination spa is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters...
. It is visited by tenfold as many tourists every year. The town got its official city status in 1985.
History
Oberhof was settled in 1641, and remained a small town until the late 1800s, when the town was connected to the railway line from Erfurt to Ritchenhausen, and skiers and other tourists discovered the place.From the early 1900s, Oberhof became a center for winter sports, with luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
, nordic skiing
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing is a winter sport that encompasses all types of skiing where the heel of the boot cannot be fixed to the ski, as opposed to Alpine skiing....
and ski jumping
Ski jumping
Ski jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
taking place in the town's regularly updated sports facilities. In recent years the town has also seen the construction of lift-equipped alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
slopes and an international competition standard biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
stadium. Their bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
Oberhof bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Oberhof bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is a venue used for bobsled, luge and skeleton located in Oberhof, Germany.-History:Oberhof had been the home of sledding activities since 1905, mostly bobsleigh. In 1931, the facility hosted the first ever FIBT World Championships in the two-man...
has hosted many world and European championships in luge.
In August 2009 the first German ski tunnel
Ski tunnel
Ski tunnels or indoor ski arenas make it possible to do cross-country skiing year-round. Except for the shape of the building they are similar to Indoor ski slopes...
opened in Oberhof.
International sports events
- 1931 Two-seat Bobsleigh World ChampionshipFIBT World Championships 1931The FIBT World Championships 1931 took place in Oberhof, Germany and in St. Moritz, Switzerland . Two-man bobsleigh made its debut.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:-Medal table:-References:**...
and FIS Nordic World Ski Championships - 1973 FIL World Luge ChampionshipsFIL World Luge Championships 1973The FIL World Luge Championships 1973 took place in Oberhof, East Germany.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Medal table:-References:***...
- 1979 FIL European Luge ChampionshipsFIL European Luge Championships 1979The FIL European Luge Championships 1979 took place in Oberhof, East Germany.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Medal table:-References:***...
- 1985 FIL World Luge ChampionshipsFIL World Luge Championships 1985The FIL World Luge Championships 1985 took place in Oberhof, East Germany for the second time, having done so previously in 1973.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Medal table:-References:***...
- 1998 FIL European Luge ChampionshipsFIL European Luge Championships 1998The FIL European Luge Championships 1998 took place in Oberhof, Germany for the second time having hosted the event previously in 1979.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...
- 2004 Biathlon World ChampionshipBiathlon World ChampionshipsThe first Biathlon World Championships was held in 1958, with individual and team contests for men. The number of events has grown significantly over the years. Beginning in 1984, women biathletes had their own World Championships, and finally, from 1989, both genders have been participating in...
and FIL European Luge ChampionshipsFIL European Luge Championships 2004The FIL European Luge Championships 2004 took place in Oberhof, Germany for the third time having hosted the event previously in 1979 and 1998. The number of teams per nation in the mixed team event is reduced from two to one starting at these championships.... - 2008 FIL World Luge ChampionshipsFIL World Luge Championships 2008The FIL World Luge Championships 2008 took place January 21-27, 2008 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Oberhof, Germany for the third time after having hosted the event in 1973 and 1985. The relay competition took the place of the team event that had been held at every world...
International relations
Oberhof, Germany is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Winterberg
Winterberg
Winterberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland.-Geography:...
, Germany Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...