Discover Oberharz am Brocken

In Oberharz am Brocken, the travel experience ranges from moderate hikes and forested viewpoints to charcoal burning traditions, church architecture and local history. Scenic highlights such as Stieger See sit alongside distinctive buildings and regional traditions. This lets you balance nature, physical activity and culture in different ways, and plan your stay around the subjects that interest you most.

For people traveling together with different interests, specific routes can be compared by length, stated duration and difficulty.

Compare hikes and trails

A 2.8 km moderate hike leads through mixed forest to the Krockstein viewpoint; the stated walking time is 55 minutes. The moderate circular route around the Hasselvorsperre near Hasselfelde is longer, at 5.5 km and 1 hour 28 minutes. Both tours are rated moderate; their length and time required are what set them apart. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

In Stiege, routes named for multi-stage hikers include the “Ways of German Emperors and Kings” historical trail, the Selketal-Stieg and the VIA ROMEA pilgrimage route. Hasselfelde has an extensive network of hiking trails, including the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg, nature trails and the Köhlerweg. These trails provide access on foot to local attractions and excursion destinations. If you are planning a train journey, you can travel daily from Hasselfelde on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway to the Brocken or into the Selketal valley. Check the current timetable before departure.

Charcoal Burning, Architecture and Local History

At the Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus, traditional earth kilns are built, fired and harvested from early April to the end of October. Visitors can experience the traditional craft of charcoal burning firsthand. In Hasselfelde, the charcoal-burning museum offers an insight into the difficult working and living conditions of charcoal burners. The seasonal demonstration and the museum’s look at daily working life offer two different ways to explore this craft.

Church architecture is another prominent theme: Stiege’s stave church is the only religious building in Germany in the Norwegian dragon style. St. Antonius Church in Hasselfelde is a three-aisled Gothic basilica. In Stiege, the turning loop of the Selketal Railway is described as Europe’s smallest turning loop.

Two institutions at the Haus des Gastes in Hasselfelde offer insights into different topics. The Blumenau Museum presents the life and work of chemist and emigrant Hermann Blumenau through images and text. The local heritage room tells the story of the town and the lives and work of its residents. You can find out the local heritage room’s opening hours from the tourist information office. Another local tradition is the Grasedanz festival in Neuwerk, which is dedicated to the hay harvest.

Lakes, Caves and Landscapes

Stieger See lies in the heart of Stiege, surrounded by green meadows and forests. In Rübeland, the show caves are right in the town center. The RT suspension bridge is a few kilometers from Neuwerk. These places offer different options for planning: a lake amid meadows and woodland, caves in the town center, or a bridge near Neuwerk.

The Harz as a Wider Region

Beyond the individual towns, the Harz provides a broader regional setting. At 1,141 meters, the Brocken is the Harz’s highest summit and lies in the core zone of Harz National Park. The national park covers 24,732 hectares, around ten percent of the entire Harz, and has eight visitor centers and national park houses. The park offers information about the national park, hiking tips, exhibitions and film screenings. These offerings are part of the Harz as a whole and complement the specific hiking, cultural and landscape themes of the individual towns.

Discover More Places

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

To the main travel overview: Harz.