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The
northernmost highlands in Germany are rich in history,
mythology and – of course – glorious scenery. This is
one of Germany’s best-loved areas of natural beauty, a
region of green peaks, strange rock formations, dark
mysterious pine forests, waterfalls and clear rushing
streams, celebrated by great writers like Heine and
Goethe. Over 8,000 km of marked nature trails
crisscrossing unspoilt countryside will tempt the
walker. Peaks like the Brocken – 1,142 metres high and
famous in legend for its witches’ dances on Walpurgis
Night – will tempt the climber. Or take a narrow gauge
train to the top of the Harz, one of several that
operate in the region.
Charming towns and villages like Goslar, Wernigerode,
Stolberg and Quedlinburg contain lovely old
half-timbered houses, historic churches, town halls and
castles from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Mining – gold, silver and lead – made the Harz rich, so
much so that this was once one of the main centers of
the Holy Roman Empire. Today’s visitor can study this
heritage in any number of fascinating monuments of
industrial archaeology, such as the old Samson silver
mine in St. Andreasberg.
Here,
too, are fine, well-established resorts, such as Bad
Harzburg, Braunlage, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Alexisbad and
Bad Sachsa, offering a wide range of accommodation and
services. Sportsmen and fitness enthusiasts have a large
menu of activities to choose from, including boating,
sailing, angling, swimming, golf, tennis and gliding,
plus ice-skating and skiing in the winter. Caves are
another unusual feature of the region, and this is a
delightful area for the botanist and plantsman, for the
forests covering the Harz contain orchids, wild violets,
gentians, foxgloves and numerous species of delicious
edible mushrooms. Still on the subject of food, visitors
are recommended to try the hearty regional specialities,
the fine Harz beers and tasty local liqueurs.
Goslar
The “Imperial City in the Harz”, Goslar is visually one
of Europe’s most remarkable ‘time warps’. UNESCO
declared it a World Heritage Site in 1992.) Here, in one
of the earliest seats of the Holy Roman Emperors, the
oldest buildings are nearly a thousand years old, not
least the magnificent Imperial Palace of the
11th-century Emperor Heinrich III. Of its original 47
churches, 23 still survive, and entire streets are lined
with picturesque half-timbered houses and charming
shops, while much of the ancient town wall also remains.
Goslar is also one of the major gateways to the Harz,
offering numerous attractive walks amidst its beautiful
mountain landscapes.
Wernigerode
Wernigerode is a fairy tale town of picturesque
half-timbered buildings, the grandest of which is its
beautiful town hall, a gem of mediaeval architecture.
For centuries, the town has been celebrated throughout
Germany for its lovely town hall weddings, and now
Moswin can arrange your own wedding in this magnificent
setting. Another splendid attraction is Wernigerode
Castle, which rises high above the town and offers a
marvellous panorama for the whole surrounding area.
Wernigerode is also a terminus for the Harzquerbahn, a
60 km narrow gauge railway providing a unique way of
exploring the Harz. |
