The Negenborn-Quelle is a spring at Gleichen, close to the village of Benniehausen. Its name refers to nine springs (negen born) that have been there in the past. If you manage to find the spring in the valley of the river Garte you’ll be at a quite place in nature, with a spring framed in stone. The Negenborn produces around 20 to 30 liters per second which run into the Garte river. A local association, the HURKUT e.V. has placed some seats and a board describing the history of this place close to the Negenborn.
But the fine people of the HURKUT e.V. aren’t the first who cared about this spring: just around the corner a soldier fighting in the Battle of Waterloo received some land which he named Waterloo. He opened a restaurant there and in front of it later a railway station of the Gartetalbahn existed. Many people, especially students, came on weekends to enjoy life there. It was this person, Hermann Klinkermann, who has put the sandstone frame around the spring. This relaxed place was another reason to take the train to Waterloo.
The beauty of this place was also known to the famous poet Gottfried August Bürger. He often came there to relax and was inspired there to the following poem:
An die Nymphe des Negenborns
Neig’ aus deines Vaters Halle,
Felsentochter, mir dein Ohr!
Hell im Schimmer der Krystalle,
Hell im Silberschleier, walle,
Reine Nymphe, wall’ hervor!Libern jauchzet die Mänade
Huldigung bei Zymbelklang.
Dir nur, glänzende Najade,
Deiner Urne, deinem Bade
Weihte keiner Hochgesang? –Wohl, ich weih’ ihn! Wo der Zecher,
Der des Preises spotten soll?
Ha! Wo ist er? Ich bin Rächer!
Fleuch! Mein Bogen tönt! Mein Köcher
Rasselt goldner Pfeile voll!Hier, wie aus der Traube, quillet
Geist und Leben, frisch und rein,
Leben, das den Hirten füllet,
Das den Durst der Herde stillet,
Welches Wiese tränkt und Hain.Horch! Es rauscht im Felsenhaine,
Woget auf der Wies’ entlang,
Leckt im Widder auf dem Raine,
Schauert durch das Mark der Beine,
Kühlt des Wandrers heißen Gang.Saugt aus Wein der Klee sein Leben,
Wohlgeruch und Honigsaft? –
Kraut und Blumen, selbst die Reben
Danken dir, o Nais, Leben,
Würze, Süßigkeit und Kraft.Lebensfülle, Kraft und Streben
– Gottfried August Bürger, 1774
Trank auch ich schon oft bei dir.
Drob sei auch von nun an Leben
Und Unsterblichkeit gegeben
Deinem Namen für und für.
How to find the Negenborn? When you’re at Benniehausen search for a street named Über den Kohlhöfen leading to the north. When this street becomes unpaved it soon crosses the Bischhauser Bach, a small flow. There the bicycle path turns left, but a sign guides you straight ahead to the Negenborn. After passing a small hill you’ll be standing in front of it. Don’t wonder that some wooden steps lead up the hill: it was a bypass that the HURKUT e.V. created for the wet and muddy path underneath. It is in bad condition but still usable.
Negenborn-Quelle
Benniehausen
Gleichen
Germany
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