The Harz Mountains

Quedlinburg

The Harz Mountains is the land of German fairy tales. Steep-roofed houses with tiny windows and narrow, cobblestone streets. Dark forests, rushing streams and stormy mountains.

There is something familiar about these little towns tucked in deep, wooded valleys. These were the scenes of childhood stories: the home of wicked witches, dwarves digging in caverns under the earth and poor woodcutters in lonely cottages.

The Brothers Grimm collected their stories from various places, primarily the area around Kassel about 40 miles to the west, but the Harz Mountains have long been famous as an important source of German folklore. Many of these stories are well-known outside of Germany as well: Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, Tom Thumb, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, The Frog Prince, and The Wolf and the Seven Kids.

Go to Harz fairy tales to read some folk tales from the Harz.

The Harz region was also known for the many silver mines; many villagers made their living underground and the towns' wealth came from these mines. There are echoes of this in the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

Harz Village

The Brocken
The highest mountain in the Harz is the Brocken, setting for one of the most famous scenes in Goethe's Faust.

The devil takes Faust up on the Brocken on Walpurgis Night to tempt him, where he watches a wild night of revelry among the witches and other evil creatures.

"Tonight the mountain's mad with magic"- Faust

According to local legend, witches gather on April 30 every year on top of the Brocken for a German version of Halloween.

In a close parallel, Disney's Fantasia, includes an eerie gathering of the forces of evil in Moussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain; the Brocken also has a treeless summit and a long association with witchcraft and devilry.

More info on the Brocken.

I noticed traveling in this area there were virtually no English-speaking tourists. This is such a magical and charming area I hope more people will make the trip and see these half-timbered towns and beautiful forests. It is hard to beat for sheer atmosphere. There are miles of walking trails in the woods to fit any level of hiking ability.

Thale

Thale

One of the most beautiful (and easiest) walks starts in the town of Thale and follows a trail beside a rushing stream along a beautiful gorge. Goethe himself is said to have walked there.

From Thale you can take a gondola to the top of a mountain (the witches used it as a taking-off point on their way to the Brocken festivities-the mountain, not the gondola!).

More info on Thale.

Wernigerode

Wernigerode

The small town of Wernigerode lies at the base of the Brocken. Its castle sits on a hill overlooking the wonderful collection of medieval houses with elaborate wood carvings.

From here you can take an old steam train all the way to the top of the Brocken, or take the train to Schierke and hike up.

More info on Wernigerode.

Goslar and Quedlinburg are two other delightful towns in the area thick with old, half-timbered houses.

Goslar

Goslar

Goslar is also famous for remarkable wood carvings on the exterior of its houses, some of which are rather scandalous! On the outskirts of Goslar is the Rammelsberg silver mine which was in operation for over 1000 years and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can put on miner's coveralls and go down into the tunnels and ride the miniature train the miners used to travel underground. (Hi Ho!)

More info on Goslar.

Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg is an impossibly quaint little town, another UNESCO site, ruled by women for most of its history. Quedlinburg was Germany's first capital and was an important city during the Middle Ages. Find out how it's fabulous treasure disappeared and then reappeared after many years.

More info on Quedlinburg .

To read about the life of Quedlinburg's most famous poet and sample his poetry, go to Friedrich Klopstock.

Also in this area is Eisleben, where Martin Luther was born and died.

For how to get there, see Maps of the Harz and Flights to Germany.

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Heinrich Heine, one of Germany's greatest poets, wrote an account of his trip through here called The Harz Journey. We get a glimpse of what it was like in the early 1800's; this was a popular destination for travelers even then.

"Most beautiful were the golden sun-rays shooting through the dark green of the firs. The roots of the trees formed a natural stairway, and everywhere my feet encountered swelling beds of moss, for the stones are here covered foot-deep, as if with light-green velvet cushions. Everywhere is a pleasant freshness and the dreamy murmur of streams. Here and there we see water rippling silver-clear amid the rocks, washing the bare roots and fibers of trees. Bend down to the current and listen, and you may hear at the same time the mysterious history of the growth of the plants, and the quiet pulsations of the heart of the mountain."

He hiked all the way up to the top of the Brocken.

In fact, when we ascend the upper half of the Brocken, no one can well help thinking of the attractive legends of the Blockberg, and especially of the great, mystical German national tragedy of Doctor Faust. It ever seemed to me that I could hear the cloven foot scrambling along behind, and that some one inhaled an atmosphere of humor. And I verily believe that Mephisto himself must breath with difficulty when he climbs his favorite mountain, for it is a road which is to the last degree exhausting, and I was glad enough when I at last beheld the long-desired Brocken-house."

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Today you don't have to walk up, though it is still a great hike. Either way, once you're up there you have a great view of the Harz.

Stream in the Harz

See hike from Schierke.