Harzer Hexenstieg
Encyclopedia
The Harzer Hexenstieg (English: "Harz Witches' Trail") is a footpath, just under 100 km long, in Germany
that runs from Osterode
through the Harz mountains and over its highest peak, the Brocken, to Thale
. It is a project by the Harz Transport Association and Harz Club
and is part of the system of trails known as the Harzer Wandernadel
.
, which is in the borough of Clausthal-Zellerfeld
and surrounnded by the Upper Harz Ponds
. The ponds are part of a cultural monument to the former mining industry of the Harz
, known as the Upper Harz Water Regale
and to which the Dyke Ditch
belongs.
Following the Dyke Ditch, the path passes the Dam House as well as the Grabenhaus Rose which belongs to the town of Altenau
. Passing the Förster Ludwig Platz and Naben Valley Waterfall the path reaches Torfhaus
via the Steile Wand ("Steep Wall").
In Torfhaus the Hexenstieg divides:
The main route runs along the Goethe Way
to the Brocken, in places parallel to the Brocken Railway, and from there to Königshütte.
An alternative route bypasses the Brocken and runs to other features of the Upper Harz Water Regale such as the Oderteich
and the Rehberg Ditch. After passing Sankt Andreasberg
and Braunlage
the path rejoins the main route.
From Königshütte two alternative routes go to Altenbrak
. One way runs through Rübeland
along the Rübeland Railway
, the other past the Rappbode Reservoir
.
From Altenbrak
the path continues to Thale
, where the Harzer Hexenstieg ends.
The name of the footpath is derived from the association of a number of sites with witches, including the Brocken and the Hexentanzplatz
("Witches' Dance Floor") in Thale and other sites such as the Bruchberg
and Braunlage
.
network of paths that may be found along the path.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
that runs from Osterode
Osterode am Harz
For the town in East Prussia formerly called Osterode, see Ostróda.Osterode am Harz often simply called Osterode, is a town in south-eastern Niedersachsen on the south-western edge of the Harz mountains. It is the seat of government of the district of Osterode. The town is twinned with Scarborough,...
through the Harz mountains and over its highest peak, the Brocken, to Thale
Thale
Thale is a town in the Harz district in Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany.-Geography:It is situated on the river Bode, approximately 8 km west of Quedlinburg. It is the terminus of the Magdeburg–Thale railway.- History :...
. It is a project by the Harz Transport Association and Harz Club
Harz Club
The Harz Club is club dedicated to maintaining the traditions of the Harz mountains in Germany and looking after the walking trails in the Harz. It was founded in 1886 in Seesen and, today, has about 16,000 members in some 90 branches.- History :...
and is part of the system of trails known as the Harzer Wandernadel
Harzer Wandernadel
The Harzer Wandernadel is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them...
.
Footpath
The Hexenstieg runs from Osterode via Lerbach to BuntenbockBuntenbock
The small village of Buntenbock lies on the plateau of the Harz mountains in Germany and is part of the mining and university town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld. It is a state-recognised climatic health resort and has accommodation for 200 visitors as well as 700 inhabitants.The village lies at a height...
, which is in the borough of Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Clausthal-Zellerfeld is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the southwestern part of the Harz mountains. Its population is approximately 15,000, Clausthal-Zellerfeld is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Oberharz....
and surrounnded by the Upper Harz Ponds
Upper Harz Ponds
The Upper Harz Ponds are found mainly around the mining town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld and the nearby villages of Buntenbock and Hahnenklee in the Upper Harz mountains of central Germany. There are around 70 ponds in total, both large and small...
. The ponds are part of a cultural monument to the former mining industry of the Harz
Mining in the Upper Harz
Mining in the Upper Harz region of central Germany was a major industry for several centuries, especially for the production of silver, lead, copper, and, latterly, zinc as well. Great wealth was accumulated from the mining of silver from the 16th to the 19th centuries, as well as from important...
, known as the Upper Harz Water Regale
Upper Harz Water Regale
The Upper Harz Water Regale is a system of dams, reservoirs, ditches and other structures, much of which was built from the 16th to 19th centuries to divert and store the water that drove the water wheels of the mines in the Upper Harz region of Germany...
and to which the Dyke Ditch
Dyke Ditch
The Dyke Ditch is the longest artificial ditch in the Upper Harz in central Germany. Its purpose was to collect surface runoff for the operation of the Upper Harz mining industry from precipitation-heavy regions a long way away . It was laid in 1732 and continually extended eastwards until 1827...
belongs.
Following the Dyke Ditch, the path passes the Dam House as well as the Grabenhaus Rose which belongs to the town of Altenau
Altenau
Altenau may refer to:places in Germany:* Altenau, Lower Saxony, a town in Lower Saxony* A part of Mühlberg in Brandenburg* A part of Saulgrub, Bavariarivers in Germany:* Altenau , a tributary of the Oker in eastern Lower Saxony...
. Passing the Förster Ludwig Platz and Naben Valley Waterfall the path reaches Torfhaus
Torfhaus
Torfhaus is a village in the borough of the mining town of Altenau in the Harz mountains of Germany and lies at a height of about .This small settlement consists mainly of restaurants, youth hostels, ski huts and large car parks. It is the highest settlement in Lower Saxony...
via the Steile Wand ("Steep Wall").
In Torfhaus the Hexenstieg divides:
The main route runs along the Goethe Way
Goethe Way
Goethe Way is the name given to a number of footpaths or trails that run through various regions in Germany and the Alps as well as a railway station on the Brocken Railway. They are all named after the German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.- Harz :Torfhaus–Brocken* Length: ca...
to the Brocken, in places parallel to the Brocken Railway, and from there to Königshütte.
An alternative route bypasses the Brocken and runs to other features of the Upper Harz Water Regale such as the Oderteich
Oderteich
The Oderteich is an historic reservoir about seven kilometres northeast of Sankt Andreasberg in the Upper Harz in central Germany. It was built by miners from St. Andreasberg in the years 1715 to 1722 and, today, is an important component of the water supply network known as the Upper Harz Water...
and the Rehberg Ditch. After passing Sankt Andreasberg
Sankt Andreasberg
Sankt Andreasberg is a town and a former municipality in the district of Goslar, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Since 1 November 2011, it is part of the town Braunlage. It is situated in the Harz, approximately 7 km west of Braunlage proper, and 20 km east of Osterode am Harz.- History :Sankt...
and Braunlage
Braunlage
Braunlage is a town and health resort in the Goslar district in Lower Saxony in Germany. It lies within the Harz mountain range, south of the Brocken.Nowadays Braunlage's main business is tourism, particularly ski tourists...
the path rejoins the main route.
From Königshütte two alternative routes go to Altenbrak
Altenbrak
Altenbrak is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.- Geography :The village is strung out for about 1.6 kilometres along the River Bode in an east-west valley. It is 3 kilometres from the Wendefurth Reservoir, which is part of the Rappbode Reservoir...
. One way runs through Rübeland
Rübeland
Rübeland is a village in the collective municipality of Elbingerode in the district of Harz in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt and, since 2004, has been given the additional description of Höhlenort...
along the Rübeland Railway
Rübeland Railway
The Rübeland Railway is a railway link from Blankenburg via Rübeland and Königshütte to Tanne in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It was built by the Halberstadt-Blankenburg Railway between 1880 and 1886. The route length is 30.6 kilometres, the height difference over 300 metres...
, the other past the Rappbode Reservoir
Rappbode Dam
The Rappbode Dam is the largest dam in the Harz region as well as the highest dam in Germany. Together with several other dams and retention basins, it forms the flood protection system for the eastern Harz.- The individual dams :...
.
From Altenbrak
Altenbrak
Altenbrak is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.- Geography :The village is strung out for about 1.6 kilometres along the River Bode in an east-west valley. It is 3 kilometres from the Wendefurth Reservoir, which is part of the Rappbode Reservoir...
the path continues to Thale
Thale
Thale is a town in the Harz district in Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany.-Geography:It is situated on the river Bode, approximately 8 km west of Quedlinburg. It is the terminus of the Magdeburg–Thale railway.- History :...
, where the Harzer Hexenstieg ends.
The name of the footpath is derived from the association of a number of sites with witches, including the Brocken and the Hexentanzplatz
Hexentanzplatz (Harz)
The Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains is a plateau , which lies high above the Bode Gorge, opposite the Rosstrappe in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.- History :...
("Witches' Dance Floor") in Thale and other sites such as the Bruchberg
Bruchberg
At the Bruchberg in the Upper Harz is the second highest mountain in Lower Saxony and the third highest in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It lies between Altenau and Torfhaus in the middle of the Harz National Park. The Bruchberg is more like a plateau and has no real summit...
and Braunlage
Braunlage
Braunlage is a town and health resort in the Goslar district in Lower Saxony in Germany. It lies within the Harz mountain range, south of the Brocken.Nowadays Braunlage's main business is tourism, particularly ski tourists...
.
Accommodation
The Harzer Hexenstieg cannot be walked in one day, and in any case there are many points of interest en route, including unspoiled areas of nature as well as cultural landscapes and quaint villages. There are a several hostels and shelters where walkers may overnight:- Osterode
- Buntenbock
- Altenau
- Torfhaus
- Brocken
- Drei Annen Hohne
- or
- Sankt Andreasberg
- Braunlage
- Elend
- Königshütte
- Thale
Walking badge
There is a walking badge called the Harzer Hexenstieg for the total of 11 check points of the Harzer WandernadelHarzer Wandernadel
The Harzer Wandernadel is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them...
network of paths that may be found along the path.
Walking maps and literature
- Harzer Hexen-Stieg, Offizielle Karte zum thematischen Wanderweg durch den Harz – walking map (1 : 30.000), Schmidt-Buch-Verlag, Wernigerode 2007, ISBN 978-3-936185-32-4
- Bauer, Hans & Krooß, Stefan, KartoGuide Harzer Hexen-Stieg, Der offizielle Führer mit Karte zum Wanderweg durch den Harz (inkl. Hexen-Stieg-Wanderkarte von 2007), Schmidt-Buch-Verlag, Wernigerode 2006, ISBN 978-3-936185-33-1
- Harzer-Hexen-Stieg – walking map (1 : 25.000), Publicpress, Geseke 2006, ISBN 3-89920-165-5
- Stein, Conrad: Harz: Hexenstieg, Outdoor-Handbuch Band 163, Conrad Stein Verlag 2005, ISBN 3-89392-563-5