Fine-tuning for England: The Three Lions move into their EURO 2024 base camp in Thuringia

At the end of May, the German men’s national football team held its training camp at the Spa&GolfResort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain. Now, on 10 June, the English national football team will move into the hotel with its ample premises and set up base camp here during the European Championships. Like the DFB team, the ‘Three Lions’ will enjoy the perfect conditions in Thuringia during the days before and between matches: breathtaking nature, state-of-the-art training facilities and the very welcoming hospitality of the Thuringians. Here, the players can prepare for their matches in a relaxed atmosphere well away from the hustle and bustle of the tournament venues and add a ‘Thuringian fine-tuning’ to their game.

The Thuringians are already looking forward to the team headed by Harry Kane. But did you know that Thuringia and England have long-standing links? Queen Victoria, the great-great-great-grandmother of King Charles III, married her maternal cousin Prince Albert von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha in 1840. As a result, her descendants also bore this name, which was anglicised to Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. This was the official name of the British royal family until 1917 – the dynasty was reconstituted under the name ‘Windsor’ during the First World War. Victoria was very fond of her husband’s homeland and wrote in her diary during a visit to the Gotha court in 1845: ‘I feel so at home here.’

Back in July 2022, the Queens Park Rangers already came to Blankenhain to hold a training camp. Football legend Sir Leslie Ferdinand said at the time: ‘This is the best training camp we’ve ever had. The pitches are perfect, as are the surroundings. Everything we needed was excellent.’ It appears his words were attentively noted by the Football Association...

Thuringia’s State Minister of Economy Wolfgang Tiefensee emphasises: ‘With both the German team’s training camp and, soon thereafter, the base camp for the English team in the city, Blankenhain will become a hot spot for football excitement in the country.’

• • Travel destination Thuringia
• • The cultural city of Weimar and Jena, city of light
• • Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land
• • Business hub Thuringia
• • Sport in Thuringia

Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft Thüringen mbH

Dr. Holger Wiemers
Spokesperson
Tel.: +49 361 5603-145
Mail: holger.wiemers[at]leg-thueringen.de

Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land

Heiner Schaumann
Communications Manager
Tel.: +49 36459 6164-4477
Mail: sports[at]golfweimar.de