This works is located amidst the beautiful scenery of the nearby northern end of the 'Langer Berg' (480 m above sea-level). Under the former GDR-regime this was the production site for the combinate VEB's (VolksEigener Betrieb = people-owned operation) sawn timber and wooden products. CFF already had a long-lasting business relationship with the combinate VEB before the change, which made a takeover by CFF only logical when the works were offered for sale straight after the change. Gehren's position quite close to the east european markets makes this site very profitable. CFF took over all the employees working here at the time of the takeover, which provided us with a perfectly-trained team for the renovation and reconversion of the production site right from the start. Things have not changed in this concern, meaning that we still have a perfectly trained and highly qualified team in Gehren - be it in production, technic or administration.

Gehren with its approx. 4000 citizens is located amidst three enchanting regions - Southeast Thuringia, south west of the Thuringia Forrests and south east of the Thuringia Slate Mountains. This natural highlands region with it forrests and lakes invites you to stay for a while and is perfectly suited for short as well as long-term holidays. It offers a wide range of sports and leasure attractions plus a number of interesting sight-seeing locations - quiet witnesses of times gone by, impressive documents of German history.

The old church of Gehren was built in 1521 and for many years was the domain of the composer, instrument maker and town-clerk Michael Bach, father in law to Johann Sebastian Bach. The traditional Michael Bach-days are held every year to honour his memory. This church and the castle of Gehren, built in 1574, are certainly the most impressive buildings of the town and have a long story to tell. The town chronicles say that on 11th September 1933 a smouldering fire spread so quickly due to technical faults and ruinous chimneys that the whole castle caught fire and burnt down almost to its grounds. Missing financial support, the years of the war and the hard years thereafter let all attempts to re-erect the building fail. However, today the carefully restored castle ruins can be visited.

Nearby Gehren you will also find the 'Rennsteig', the 'Schwarzburg' and the ruins of the Paulinzella cloister. The Saalfeld 'Feengrotte' (fairy grotto) - Thuringia's miracle in the deep mountain - is a mystic as well as romantic place, inviting the visitor to explore the area in more detail and also pay a visit to the neighbouring 'Feengrottenpark' (fairy grotto park).

For further detailed information about the town, the region and about CFF please see www.gehren.de in the internet. Gehren-online also offers interesting links on the history of this region.

Find us with Google Maps