Harzungen: Village History and the Rüdigsdorfer Schweiz

Harzungen invites you to discover village history and the surrounding landscape side by side. The village borders the “Rüdigsdorfer Schweiz” nature reserve, while its recorded history reaches back to the Middle Ages. This brings together a close-up look at the village and a hiking area right on its doorstep.

Village history with traces of the Middle Ages

Records show that in 1259 Harzungen was part of the lands of Count Heinrich of Hohnstein. In the 13th century, the Knights of Harzungen were based at a manor in the village. These two references highlight different aspects: the first places the village within the property relations of its time, while the second points to a manor within Harzungen. Together, they provide clear historical markers without requiring a single place to carry the entire story.

A later event that was announced is also part of the village’s history: a village and fire brigade festival was announced for 4 July 2026 in Harzungen. The Harzungen Volunteer Fire Brigade was due to celebrate its 200th anniversary there.

Gypsum karst and hiking right next to Harzungen

Harzungen borders the “Rüdigsdorfer Schweiz” nature reserve. A gypsum karst landscape characterises the area, which is described as a hiking area. This creates a clear distinction when choosing what interests you: history and village connections take centre stage in the village itself, while the landscape of the protected area lies directly next door. If you particularly enjoy combining landscapes and village history when planning your trip, these are two distinct points of interest that can be explored together.

Hiking connections and events from Harzungen

A 2025 edition of the “Harztor Wanderkinder” booklets included Harzungen in its stamp hunt: stamps could be collected in the named districts of the municipality. At the same time, it shows how a village name can feature within a wider municipal context, while the neighbouring protected area offers a distinct connection to the landscape.

The 2025 Südharz Rally also passed through Harzungen: a 10-kilometre orienteering drive ran from Harzungen to Osterode and back to Harzungen along a circular route. An additional loop went around Hasenwinkel.

More topics in the wider Harztor destination

Harzungen is one of the districts of the municipality of Harztor. Those who look beyond the village will find other landscape and cultural topics there, clearly associated with Harztor and its individual villages. The Bere Valley is a nature reserve with numerous rock formations and wooded areas; it extends as far as Netzkater. Well-signposted cycling and hiking trails, as well as health trails, run around Neustadt/Harz. These regional connections complement the specific landscape on Harzungen’s doorstep without equating it with the Bere Valley or the trails around Neustadt.

The cultural attractions are also in other districts of Harztor: half-timbered houses and St. George’s Church shape the townscape of Neustadt/Harz. At the Ilfeld Local History Museum, dedicated exhibition areas cover industry and crafts, as well as schools. The museum gallery focuses on the geology and mineralogy of the local area; a small-scale model of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways can also be seen there. This means that, alongside Harzungen’s village history, the wider destination offers further topics specifically associated with Neustadt/Harz and Ilfeld.

Your choice of destination can therefore be guided by the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Rodishain, Windehausen, Wolkramshausen, Sülzhayn, Ellrich, Harztor, Niedersachswerfen, Hesserode.

Go to the main travel overview: Nordhausen.