Discover Elend: Wooden Church and Forest Outdoor Pool

Elend offers a variety of experiences within a compact area: the wooden church is a local landmark, while the forest outdoor pool on the edge of the woods adds a different dimension in summer. There is also a viewpoint nearby and Rocken am Brocken, an event held during a period specified each year. These differences can help you decide what to focus on for your trip—architecture, a summer day at the pool or a particular festival date.

Wooden Church, Outdoor Pool and Viewpoint

The wooden church in Elend is a half-timbered building in the Neo-Gothic style, covering 60 m². Its distinctive features include the “rolling” altar. As a local landmark, it connects the town’s history with a specific architectural feature: half-timbering and Neo-Gothic design define the building, while the altar stands out for its unusual name alone.

The forest outdoor pool is located on the edge of the woods. In summer, its facilities include a swimming pool, a children’s pool, a slide, a water lily pond, a beach volleyball court and a sunbathing lawn. The children’s pool, slide and sunbathing lawn give families concrete options for a day at the pool; the beach volleyball court adds another dimension. As the facilities are seasonal, check current operating information if you are planning a visit for a specific day.

Helenenruh, a viewpoint at an elevation of 600 m above the Elendstal valley and near Schierke, lies close to the destination. This adds a landscape theme to the local architecture and seasonal outdoor pool. Rocken am Brocken is celebrated in Elend every year in late July and/or early August. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the current event information for the year you have in mind.

This lets you tailor your search to what you would like to experience or discover in Elend, rather than deciding based solely on a general idea of a holiday.

More topics in the wider Oberharz am Brocken destination

Hikes can also be compared using specific times. A 2.8 km, moderately difficult hike leads through mixed woodland to the Krockstein viewpoint; the stated walking time is 55 minutes. The also-moderate circular trail around the Hasselvorsperre near Hasselfelde is 5.5 km long and is listed as taking 1 hour 28 minutes. The walking times clearly distinguish the two options. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

In Hasselfelde, the network of hiking trails includes the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg, nature trails and the Köhlerweg. The trails provide access on foot to local sights and excursion destinations. From Hasselfelde, you can also take the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway daily to the Brocken or into the Selke Valley; check the current timetable before travelling.

Crafts and history come together at the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus: from early April to the end of October, traditional earth kilns are built, fired and harvested there, offering a live demonstration of the old charcoal-burning craft. The charcoal burners’ museum gives an impression of the difficult working and living conditions of the charcoal burners. In Hasselfelde, the Blumenau Museum in the Haus des Gastes presents the life and work of chemist and emigrant Hermann Blumenau through images and text. The local history room in the same building tells the story of the town and the lives and work of its residents; ask the Tourist Information Centre about opening hours.

Stiege offers further distinct cultural and landscape themes: the stave church is the only religious building in Germany in the Norwegian dragon style. The turning loop is part of the Selke Valley Railway and is described as Europe’s smallest turning loop. Lake Stieger See lies in the middle of the town and is surrounded by green meadows and forests. For long-distance hikers, Stiege is listed as a starting point for the “Wege deutscher Kaiser und Könige” history trail, the Selketal-Stieg and the VIA ROMEA pilgrimage route.

Other places in the wider destination also have clearly defined themes: St. Antonius Church in Hasselfelde is a three-aisled Gothic basilica. In Neuwerk, the traditional Grasedanz festival is devoted entirely to the hay harvest. The Rübeland stalactite caves are located right in the centre of Rübeland. Together, these examples show the range of regional interests beyond Elend’s own offerings.

Discover more destinations: Sorge, Königshütte, Neuwerk, Rübeland, Elbingerode, Stiege, Trautenstein, Hasselfelde.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Oberharz Am Brocken.