Located directly at the Saale crossing, the Saaltor marks the lowest and easternmost point of the fortified town. The gate was the gateway for the trade route across the Saale into the Orlagau and on to Saxony and already existed in 1365, when the stone bridge first mentioned at the time was structurally repaired.

A visit to the Saaltor is always instructive, as people today are still plagued by a number of ailments that were already known to their ancestors in the Middle Ages and early modern times. But how were they treated back then? And what were the chances of a cure?

Grete Wagnerin, a Saalfeld herbalist, knows a lot of advice and many helpful tinctures, ointments and infusions. This is why the Nuremberg merchant Georg Pelzer, who is stopping off in Saalfeld, begs her to help his terminally ill son Konrad. Visitors even have the chance to lend a hand to the wise Wagner.

But first they should learn a little about the history of medicine, herbalism, hospitals and healing methods - all of which can be found in the exhibition in the Saaltor.