Artern is a town in the Kyffhäuserkreis district, Thuringia, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Unstrut and Helme, 12 km south of Sangerhausen. It has railway connections to Erfurt and Sangerhausen. The railway connection to Naumburg was cancelled in December 2006. The population was 6.165 in the 2006 census. Machinery, sugar and boots used to be manufactured in Artern. Its brine springs, known as early as the 15th century, are still frequented. Notable residents of Artern include John Christopher Kunze, a noted Lutheran clergyman, pietist, and author.