Information center meeting 2025 at the Panorama Therme Beuren
On September 19, 2025, the Swabian Alb Geopark welcomed representatives from the 24 Geopark information centers to its autumn meeting. The meeting was hosted by Panorama Therme Beuren, offering participants a unique opportunity to combine work and wellness. The focus was on current developments in the Geopark, new projects, and ideas for the future. The exchange between the partners once again demonstrated how valuable the work within the network of Geopark information centers is.
At the beginning of the meeting, Bertram Dorner, managing director of Panorama Therme, welcomed those present and gave a brief introduction to the history of Panorama Therme. The office then provided information about news from the Geopark.
Outlook: Exchange, children's programs, and new formats
The main topic was the planned Geopark Festival in July 2026, which will take place at the Burg Katzenstein information center. How the event will be promoted—whether digitally, with print materials, or in cooperation with SWR—is still to be decided. It is important that people without digital access are also reached.
There are also plans to gradually introduce each information center and its topics on social media in 2026. The European Geopark Weeks (EGN Weeks) are also to be promoted more intensively by the information centers in the future. The EGN Weeks 2026 are expected to take place from May 25 to June 8, 2026. Please make a note of this date
The representatives of the information centers reported on current projects and new team members, who were warmly welcomed to the Geopark. The reports from the information centers made it clear that many of them offer a wide range of information for adults, but would like to have more materials that appeal to children. Interactive and playful elements could help to get young visitors more excited about the topics covered by the Geopark.
Representatives of the network should be present at the meetings—if necessary, through visitor service staff—in order to ensure important exchanges within the network.
Background
Each year, a different information center hosts the network meeting. This allows all representatives to gradually get to know the diverse partner institutions and their topics. The Panoramatherme Beuren provided insights into its theme of thermal water during a guided tour: two springs extract it from aquifers at different depths in the rock: the heat inside the earth warms the water of the Friedrichsquelle spring at a depth of 381.5 meters to 37.2 °C and that of the Wilhelmsquelle spring at a depth of 755 meters to 48.4 °C. The reason for this is a geological heat anomaly in the Central Swabian Alb: underground, the temperature normally increases by an average of 3 °C per 100 meters of depth – but here it increases by up to 11 °C per meter. This is clearly explained on special information boards at the Geopark information center.
The thermal springs and the unique landscape of the area have made Beuren a recognized health resort and recreational destination for decades. The team at the thermal baths is naturally committed to the Geopark – Geopark topics are well received by the approximately 550,000 guests who visit each year.
Further information: Panorama Therme Beuren
