- The bakehouse in Bad Schlema has existed since 2004.
- Its owner is the Schlema Baking Club (registered organization).
- The Baking Club had been looking for a suitable place and found a decommissioned pump station.
- The club bought the pump station, renovated and rebuilt it.
- At first, a historical oven made from loam bricks was installed. In 2017, the oven was rebuilt and lined with fire clay bricks.
- About 50 to 60 loaves can be put into the oven.
- The oven is heated with wood – fascines and logs – as you can see in the photos.
- Today, the club has 34 members.
- During the first 10 years, up to 70 events a year took place.
- Nowadays, about four or five public activities are hosted, for example the Easter Baking Event or the Bakehouse Fest.
- Besides, there are two or three events especially for kids.
- Additionally, baking events for club members take place every now and then.
- Mostly, they bake floured bread, but also coffee cake and stollen.
- On the occasion of public events they always offer a specialty from the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains): A spread made from bacon and onions on a slice of warm fresh bread, sprinkled with salt or slices of pickled gherkin on top of it. This delicious snack is called a “Fettbemme”.
- The flour – rye or wheat flour – is produced by a grain mill that still uses water power.
- The Baking Club has its own internet page (https://www.backhaus-schlema.de/).
Translation: Eberhard Eisler