Altstadthotel Ilsenburg

Wernigerode

"The colourful city of the Harz" Wernigerode and Wernigerode castle. The castle is enthroned high above the city. In the castle you can look into princely rooms and there are various exhibitions all year round. From the castle you have a fantastic view of the Harz landscape up to Bloksbjerg. Wernigerode is a town full of charm. There are many magnificent half-timbered houses - the oldest dates from around 1400.

Treetop path Harz

Experience the beautiful nature of the Harz Mountains from a new perspective with a walk among the tree crowns in Bad Harzburg! On your next self-drive holiday to the Harz Mountains, you can stop off at the Harz Tree Path. Several metres above the forest floor, a route of wooden bridges has been built between the treetops, from where you will get a spectacular 360-degree view of the landscape, with several viewpoints along the way. An exciting experience for the whole family.

Schierke

The small village in the middle of the Harz Mountains has about 900 inhabitants and is located at the beautiful Harz National Park right in the middle of the beautiful Germany. Schierke is situated about 600 metres above sea level and leads directly up to Bloksbjerg. The village lies in the valley of the river "Kalte Bode" and is a very popular place, both because of its beautiful location, but also thanks to the many opportunities for outdoor recreation that the surrounding mountains and parks offer. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking and cycling in the beautiful countryside. The park covers 24,700 hectares, so it may be a good idea to have a few walks prepared from home, as it is a large area.

Harz National Park

In the fantastic park of 247 sqm you can get up close to nature. With more than 300 km of routes there are plenty of opportunities for beautiful hiking and cycling tours for the whole family. 

Goslar

Goslar is the largest town in the Harz, and is characterised by half-timbered buildings and buildings with slate coatings in fantastic patterns. These were built to accommodate the miners in the town who worked to extract silver, lead and copper.

In Goslar you can see Germany's oldest secular building, the Kaiserhaus, which was built in 1050. It was used as the emperor's residence until 1250.

BocksBergBob

Go on a wonderful family holiday in the Harz Mountains and visit the Bocksberg. The fun summer toboggan run is located on the slopes of the Bocksberg near Hahnenklee. Here, one to two people can race down the slopes. You control the speed yourself, so it doesn't get any wilder than you want. The BocksBergBob track is between 1 and 6 metres above the ground, depending on where you are on the track. At the end of the ride, you are pulled back up to the start while sitting in the sled.

You can either take the cable car up to the start of the track or take a brisk hike up there. So you're also set for an active holiday and, of course, a holiday with children.

Rammelsberg Mines

The Harz was once known for its many minerals and metals. These included silver, gold, copper, coal and iron. There are many disused mines in the area. If you would like to explore a mine, the Rammelsberg mine is worth a visit. Here you can see how mines were worked in the old days and how they are worked in modern times with explosives.

You can take a small mountain train deep into the mine, where the little ones can even get a helmet with a headlamp and try their hand at mining.

The mine also has a museum and a restaurant.

Braunlage

Go on a family holiday with the kids and visit the small German town of Braunlage, located in the Goslar region in the southern Harz Mountains. The town has its history to tell, having been founded as early as 1250. One of the oldest buildings in town is the old forge building from 1658, which today serves as a hotel. The cosy little town also has a number of shops as well as cafés and bistros.

The town's main source of income is tourism, mostly due to its fantastic location, which helps make it suitable for a lot of outdoor activities and sports in the beautiful mountains and forests. In summer, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking or cycling in the mountains, and there are several mountain bike trails to challenge most. In winter, skiing is popular and this is certainly noticeable. The Harz is a fantastic ski resort and is very popular in winter with tourists from all over Europe. The beautiful surroundings, a mixture of pine forests and mountains, make this place truly unique.

Try a turn on the ice rink in the Stadion, located in Harzburger Strasse. Ice hockey and disco skating are organised here, as well as ice shooting. Equipment can be rented at the Stadion, try to get up to speed with a pair of skates on your feet, a fun experience for all members of the family, both experienced and inexperienced. A little less balance is required to play mini golf, here more emphasis is placed on precision with a golf ball. Try the 14-hole mini golf course at Adventure Golf. This sets the stage for a wonderful and active holiday with the children, with lots of fun and exciting activities. Find a self-drive holiday with Risskov and go on an active family holiday in Braunlage, Germany.

Quedlinburg

This medieval town has a fascinating history dating back to the first millennium. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its stunning and well-preserved half-timbered houses, cobbled streets and alleyways that wind through the old town, which also boasts world-class architecture. Here you can see different styles from long-lost eras and see building techniques in a away, like a visual roof-top table. In the centre of town is the beautiful Romanesque Church of St Servatius, which was also politically important as it is said that King Henry I was crowned here - he was buried in 936. The city has around 26,000 inhabitants. The annual Christmas market is held from November through the Christmas month and has repeatedly been voted one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Saxony-Anhalt.

Christmas market in Wernigerode

Open 21nd November - 22nd December - You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information

Christmas atmosphere between the hill and mountain tops of the Harz. With Christmas lights and old half-timbered houses, Wernigerode looks like a scene from a fairytale in December, when the town's Christmas market takes place in the square in front of the magnificent town hall. Wernigerode offers pleasant walks, stalls with the most wonderful Christmas gifts and Christmas treats galore for the sweet tooth."

Wernigerode's old square is the site of the annual Christmas market, which spreads out into the side streets of the town among the beautiful old half-timbered houses. Many of the houses date back to the 16th century and with the Christmas market's decorations and splendour, the atmospheric buildings look extra grand.

During the Christmas market there are many Christmas stalls. They sell handicrafts in many trades and various Christmas treats such as glazed apples, hot mulled wine and roasted almonds. The village centre is car-free, making it perfect for short strolls under the dark December sky.

Wernigerode is centrally located in the Harz, and can thus be experienced in continuation of and together with our many stays in the region.