The Harz

Hikes through nature, mountain bike adventures, fascinating UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites, monuments dating back centuries, and the biggest rose exhibit in the world in Sangerhausen. All that and more is waiting for you in the Harz. The most northern low mountain range in Germany connects three states Niedersachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thüringen and is home to famous places like Quedlinburg, Wernigerode, Luther-town Eisleben and Goslar.

The Brocken, with 1142 meters the highest mountain in northern Germany is an alpine island within the mountain range. The "Hexentanzplatz“ (Witches Dance Square) near Thale with its mystic charisma manages to fascinate especially on Walpurgis Night. The Harz is full of fairy tales and legends. Let the magic pull you in when you come visit the western Sachsen-Anhalt. Experience a dance around the fire on Hexentanzplatz in midst of a beautiful landscape. Admire the „Teufelsmauer“ (Devil’s Wall) near Blankenburg. Legend has it that the devil became so angry he destroyed the wall throwing the stones as far as Halberstadt. Come visit the „Tropfsteinhöhlen“ (dripstone caves) and see magical figures created by water and stone. Hiking through the Harz you can experience all of these miracles while seeing the beautiful nature here.

Bizarre canyons, rushing waterfalls, gigantic cliffs, forests and impressive water dams are all around the 8000 kilometres of hiking trails. One of the best trails is the „Harzer-Hexen-Stieg“ (Witches Steps in The Harz). Starting in Osterode this trial takes you all the way to Thale, stretching over 100 kilometres in five stages through the Harz National Park. Tours are offered for mountain biking and hiking, water rafting and cross-country skiing. Every adventurer and sport fan will find something exciting to do.

Another trail, „Selketal-Stieg“ takes you from Stiege to Quedlinburg, 67 km away. With the new train Selketalbahn now going all the way to Quedlinburg you could turn this into an adventure lasting a few days. Yet a third trail worth mentioning, the „Harzer Grenzweg am Grünen Band“ (Bordering Trail Along The Green) starts in Ilsenburg and ends in Walkenried.

If interested in history and culture make sure to include a visit to Quedlinburg and Luther-town Eisleben. Quedlinburg, with over 1300 historical buildings from 8 centuries  has been made a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994.
Travel through centuries while walking through this beautiful little town. Admire the church „Stiftskirche St. Servatius,“ which is a world cultural heritage and also one of the points of interest on the „Strasse der Romanik“ (Romanesque Road).
Wernigerode, called the „Colourful Town in Harz“, is another charming little town dating back to the Middle Ages. Many interesting buildings, like the Smallest House and the Leaning House manage to amaze everyone.

Eisleben, town of Martin Luther: Travel back to the 16th Century to see the world of Reformist Martin Luther. You can visit his birthplace, the church of his very last sermon and the house he died in.

You can find more monuments of the Romanesque Era in Halberstadt or Pansfelde. Castle Falkenstein (Burg Falkenstein) has been built here in the 12th Century, overlooking the valley. When visiting the enormous castle make sure to see the huge birds of prey in the falconry.
Halberstadt is home to some of the oldest churches and museums. Some of the churches here were built in the Middle Ages, including the Convent Unser Lieben Frauen (Our Dear Women) and the famous Cathedral of Saint Stephanus und Saint Sixtus (Dom St. Stephanus und St. Sixtus). The Cathedral has a treasure with over 600 items on display, such as the Liturgical Robe, holy relics and tapestries showing religious symbols and stories.
In 1903 the world largest rose exhibit opened in Sangerhausen. Take a walk in the beautiful gardens and admire over 8300 different kinds of roses.
As a special treat take a drive in our famous Harzer Schmalspurbahn (narrow-gauge train system). The steam train takes you to beautiful and interesting destinations all over the Harz. The railway is about 140 kilometres long, making it the biggest narrow-gauge trainsystem in Europe. An extension to the train system is the Brockenbahn (Brocken train) taking you to highest station in Sachsen-Anhalt on the Brocken. A ride on the trains is a memorable trip enjoyable for more than just train fans.

Harzer Verkehrsverband e.V.
Marktstraße 45
38640 Goslar

Tel.: 
05321 34040
Fax:
05321 340466

eMail:
info@harzinfo.de
Homepage:
http://www.harzinfo.de