Discover the Harz: Brocken, nature and UNESCO World Heritage
Accommodation in Harz
The Harz offers striking peaks, protected natural areas, cultural heritage and a variety of activities. At 1,141 metres, the Brocken is the highest peak in the Harz and lies in the core zone of Harz National Park. The national park covers 24,732 hectares, around ten percent of the entire Harz region. The UNESCO Harz–Brunswick Land–Eastphalia Geopark also includes the Harz.
Experience nature and find your way
In Harz National Park, 560 kilometres of signposted trails lead to particularly scenic viewpoints. One option for route planning is the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg: it passes through Harz National Park and the Brocken bog. There are twelve discovery islands along the trail. They point out special viewpoints, tell stories or invite you to take a short break. The multimedia guide to the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg supplements the route information at 28 stations with audio stories or films; if you would like to use it, check its availability in advance.
For another way to explore the national park, visit the visitor centres and national park houses for information. There are eight of them; you can find information about the park, hiking tips, exhibitions and film screenings there. The programme also includes guided hikes and excursions with rangers, experts, national park guides and national park forest guides. If you are planning one of these tours, check the current dates. If you would rather pursue your own collecting goal, you can use the Harzer Wandernadel as a guide: it connects 222 stamping stations across the Harz. Anyone who collects all 222 stamps earns the title “Harz Hiking Emperor”.
Cultural landscape and history
The Upper Harz Water Management System has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since August 2010. Today, this cultural landscape includes 107 preserved ponds, 310 kilometres of water channels and 30 kilometres of underground waterways. The ponds, channels and underground waterways show the different forms of this water management system. Those interested in historic architecture will find something different in Quedlinburg: the town has more than 2,000 half-timbered houses dating from eight centuries. It is one of Germany’s largest groups of listed buildings. The water management system and the half-timbered town thus offer different points of interest for a trip, without being the same kind of excursion.
Rail, cycling and special experiences
The Brocken Railway is one way to reach the Brocken by train. The Harz Narrow Gauge Railways also offer rail hikes through the natural areas of the Selke Valley and the southern Harz. These are two different rail experiences: one connection provides an option for reaching the Brocken, while the other offerings combine rail travel with hiking through the natural areas mentioned. Check the timetable before making specific plans.
For cyclists, the Volksbank Arena Harz offers 74 mountain bike trails with a total length of 2,300 kilometres; the operator may update these figures. At the Rappbode Dam, Harzdrenalin offers activities including wall running, Ultrashot, Megazipline, the “Titan RT” suspension bridge, GigaSwing and a 5D cinema. The Titan RT spans the Bode Valley and is 458.5 metres long. As individual activities may change, it is advisable to check the latest information before planning a visit.
Choose accommodation based on your interests
The topics mentioned range from striking landscapes and signposted trails to World Heritage, urban architecture, rail services and leisure activities. So first consider which of these are most important for your stay. For guided tours, train journeys, the multimedia guide and activities at the Rappbode Dam, it is worth checking dates, timetables or availability in advance.
Discover more destinations: Ilsenburg, Tanne, Wernigerode, Blankenburg Am Harz, Oberharz Am Brocken, Nordharz.
Return to the overview of destinations: Saxony-Anhalt.
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