HARZ MOUNTAINS 229 Quedlinburg Thale Gernrode © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © Wernigerode Harz National Park Brocken Goslar (Harz Journey; 1824)
© Lonely Planet Publications 229 Harz Mountains The Harz Mountains rise picturesquely from the North German Plain, covering an area 100km long and 30km wide at the junction of Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Lower Saxony. Although the scenery here is a far cry from the dramatic peaks and valleys of the Alps, the Harz region is a great year-round sports getaway, with plenty of opportunities for hiking, cycling and skiing (downhill and nordic) in and around the pretty Harz National Park. The regular influx of visitors in all seasons is testament to the enduring appeal of the Harz; historically, too, its status as a prime national holiday destination has never been questioned. From 1952 until reunification, the region was divided between West and East Germany, effectively becoming an uneasy political holiday camp straddling the Iron Curtain. The Brocken (1142m) is the focal point, and has had more than its fair share of illustri- ous visitors: the great Goethe was frequently seen striding the local trails and set ‘Walpur- gisnacht’, an early chapter of Faust, on the mountain, while satirical poet Heinrich Heine spent a well-oiled night here, as described in Harzreise (Harz Journey; 1824). Elsewhere the charming medieval towns of Wernigerode and Quedlinburg pull the crowds, while equally venerable steam trains pull them along between the mountain villages, spas and sports resorts that litter the region. Get out your knee socks or your ski mask and treat yourself to a taste of the active life. HIGHLIGHTS Pagan Rituals Trek to the Brocken or
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