Page 152 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

150  EASTERN GERM AN Y SA x on y–A n HAL T  151

and a massive castle rises above
the town. The Harzquerbahn, a 3 The Harz Mountain Trail Tips for Drivers
narrow-gauge railway which
links the small towns and villages The tourist trail across the Harz Mountains leads Length: 55 km (34 miles).
in the Harz Mountains, between through charming historic towns and villages, as well Stopping places: there are many
Wernigerode and Nordhausen, as past the other attractions of the region including attractive restaurants all along the
provides another popular tourist some fascinating caves and unusual rock formations. trail, in every town.
attraction. The Brockenbahn _ Walpurgisnacht,
Thale: 30 Apr.
runs between Wernigerode and
the Brocken mountain.
Strolling around the Old Town 1 The Rübeland 2 Blankenburg
it is well worth stepping into Caves This charming mountain town is
Rübeland’s main
St John’s Church, featuring a attractions are the overlooked by an 18th-century castle.
Romanesque west tower. It Hermannshöhle and The Teufelsmauer, a spectacular 4-km
(2-mile) long sandstone cliff, attracts
contains some late-Gothic feat- Baumannshöhle, many climbers.
ures, including the font and the two caves with
altar. The variety of ornaments amazing stalactites 3 Thale
adorning the houses in and stalagmites. Many mountain walks start in Thale,
Interior of the Gothic Cathedral of Halberstadt Wernigerode is truly staggering. including one to the Hexentanzplatz,
Particularly interesting are the a platform suspended above a cliff,
1 Halberstadt richest cathedral treasuries – the houses along Breite Strasse, the from where witches fly to Sabbath
Domschatz, with precious 12th- town’s main shopping street celebrations in the Walpurgis Night.
Road map D3. * 42,000. £ @
n Hinter dem Rathause 6 (03941- century tapestries, numerous which is closed to traffic.
55 18 15). ∑ halberstadt.de sculptures and liturgical vessels. Wernigerode
Other interesting churches to + Schloss Wernigerode
Halberstadt enjoys a have survived in the old town Am Schloss 1. Tel 03943-55 30 30.
picturesque location in the district include the Roman- # May–Oct: 10am–6pm; Nov–Apr: J
foothills of the Harz es que 12th-century 10am–5pm Tue–Fri, 10am–6pm Sat & Elbingerode Quedlinburg Hoym
Mountains. Its history Liebfrauenkirche Sun. &
goes back to the and the Gothic The fairy-tale castle, spiked with
9th century, when it Marktkirche St turrets, was built during the years
became a seat of a Martini with a 1861–83 on the site of an older J J Ermsleben
mission episcopate. statue of Roland, fortress. Now a museum, it J
Once an important symbolizing the houses the Stolberg-Wernigerode BODETA
town, Halberstadt freedom of the family art collection. The castle J
had 80 per cent Romanesque Crucifixion group city. Remaining ramparts afford a fantastic view
of its buildings in the Dom, Halberstadt timber-frame of the town and the nearby Hasselfelde RAMBERG
destroyed during houses can be seen Harz mountains.
World War II. Fortunately, many in Gröper- and Taubenstrasse.
of its beautiful historic buildings Environs
have been restored to their E Domschatz The small town of Osterwieck, 7 Harzgerode Güntersberge
former glory. Tel 03941 24237. # Apr–Oct: 22 km (14 miles) to the north, The town has STIEGE
The vast St Stephans Dom is 10am–5:30pm daily (from 11am Sun); has over 400 timber-frame charming timber-
the fourth successive church Nov–Mar: 10am–4pm Tue–Sun. buildings, dating mainly from frame houses
built on the same site. Construc- 8 obligatory. ∑ dom-und- the 16th and in the Old Town,
tion began in the 13th century domschatz.de 17th centuries. and a 16th- Kurort
and the church was consecrated century castle. Stolberg 4 Gernrode
in 1491. The two-tower tran- Environs The star attraction
septial basilica ranks as one of An original 12th-century 6 Burg Falkenstein in this town is the
the most beautiful pure Gothic Benedictine church stands in This huge castle, built in the 12th 10th-century church of St
forms in Germany. Its oldest part Huysburg, 11 km (7 miles) to century and extended many times, is Cyriacus. Its interior is
is the 12th-century font. Also the northwest. now a museum. From the castle, the devoid of ornaments, yet
notable are the Romanesque visitor can enjoy a splendid view over enchantingly pure in form.
Crucifixion group (c.1220), set the surrounding Harz Mountains.
above the choir screen, and 2 Wernigerode Key
several examples of Gothic Road map D3. * 36,000. £ @ Tour route
sculpture. Stained-glass windows n Marktplatz 10 (03943-55 37 835). 5 Ballenstedt
from around 1330 have survived _ Rathausfest (Jun); Schlossfestspiele The former home of the Other road
in the Marian Chapel, and (Jul & Aug). ∑ wernigerode.de von Anhalt-Bemburg family Scenic route
15th-century windows can be enchants visitors to this day
found along the cloisters and in Wernigerode is attractively with its imaginative design,
the presbytery. situated at a confluence of two including the Baroque 0 km 2
The adjoining chapter build- rivers. Timber-frame houses lean The romantic façade of Schloss castle set in a park. 0 miles 2
ings contain one of Ger many’s across its steep, winding streets, Wernigerode, now a museum
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp493–4 and pp513–14 For map symbols see back flap

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