Rübeland between stalactite caves and nature experiences

Rübeland combines underground discoveries with time outdoors. Baumann’s Cave and Hermann’s Cave are right in the town centre; there is also an outdoor pool and hiking trails with different durations and distances. This lets you plan your stay around whether you want to focus on cave visits, outdoor activities or both.

Two caves, different discoveries

Baumann’s Cave combines nature and culture in a special way: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited it several times, and its largest cavern is named after him. The Goethe Hall is home to an underground natural stage. It hosts theatre performances and concerts, among other events. The hall is therefore interesting not only for its namesake, but also as a venue for events.

Hermann’s Cave is a river cave. Its caverns reach heights of up to 50 metres. Notable features include Olmensee, home to Germany’s only olm population, and a crystal chamber. Guided tours last about 50 minutes. The current schedule indicates that tours are planned at 20-minute intervals; check the schedule before your visit. The tour provides a clearly defined activity, while the caves themselves reveal different natural features.

Hiking and swimming in Rübeland

If you’d like to plan a hike after your cave visit, the “Himmel & Höhle” connecting trail is a specific option: this moderately difficult route is about 6.4 kilometres long, takes 1 hour and 50 minutes, and starts at the Hermann’s Cave car park in Rübeland. This is a different time commitment from the approximately 50-minute tour of Hermann’s Cave. You can compare the two durations when planning, without treating the hike as part of the cave visit.

The Bodeperle outdoor pool in Rübeland is another option for spending time outdoors. It offers opportunities for swimming, paddling, playing and relaxing. This means you can choose activities by the water as well as caves and hiking. You can decide which ones suit your fellow travellers’ interests, without trying to fit every experience into a fixed itinerary.

Regional additions in the Oberharz am Brocken

In the wider Oberharz am Brocken destination, you can compare other hikes by distance and stated walking time. A moderately difficult, 2.8-kilometre route leads through mixed forest to the Krockstein viewpoint; it is listed as taking 55 minutes. The moderately difficult circular trail around the Hasselvorsperre near Hasselfelde is 5.5 kilometres long and listed as taking 1 hour and 28 minutes. The two routes therefore differ in both distance and time required.

The region’s attractions also include the traditional craft of charcoal making. At the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus, traditional earth kilns are built, fired and harvested from the beginning of April to the end of October, giving visitors the chance to experience the old craft live. The charcoal-making museum offers a glimpse into the difficult working and living conditions of charcoal burners. In Hasselfelde, the Blumenau Museum in the Haus des Gastes provides insight into the life and work of chemist and emigrant Hermann Blumenau, while the local history room tells the story of the town and its residents.

Stiege offers a different focus: its stave church is the only religious building in Germany in the Norwegian dragon style. The reversing loop is part of the Selketalbahn and is described as Europe’s smallest reversing loop. Stieger See lies in the middle of the town, surrounded by green meadows and forests. From Hasselfelde, you can take the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways to the Brocken or into the Selketal every day; check the current timetable before travelling. These regional destinations complement Rübeland’s focus on caves and nature with traditional crafts, local history and railways.

Choose your accommodation based on your itinerary

If you’d like to focus on the two stalactite caves, the Bodeperle or the “Himmel & Höhle” hiking trail, start by searching for accommodation in Rübeland. If you’d also like to include hikes, charcoal making or the towns of Hasselfelde and Stiege, it may make sense to look at the wider Oberharz am Brocken area. That way, your choice of search area follows your preferred itinerary, rather than limiting you to just one type of excursion.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Elend, Neuwerk, Sorge, Elbingerode, Hasselfelde, Benneckenstein, Königshütte, Stiege.

Back to the regional travel overview: Oberharz Am Brocken.