This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
introducing


33


Harz Mountains - Germany’s hidden treasures -


T


he Harz region is a secret little gem of a destination located in the middle of Germany.


It is a place of medieval romantic towns with half-timber red-framed buildings, three UNESCO World Heritage sites, old castles, mountains and historic mines.


Dominating it all is the protected area of the


Harz National Park, where the Harz mountains rise up from the North German plain and cover a 3000sqkm area. A stunning area of peaks, deep valleys, rich forests, lakes and streams, the mountains provide a great holiday backdrop from which visitors can explore a trio of World Heritage sites. It speaks volumes for the region that it has three UNESCO’s special sites, and each one exemplifi es different facets of the Harz’s appeal: romantic little towns, mysterious mines, spiritual places and legendary mountains.


QUEDLINBURG: Quedlinburg is an extraordinary example of a medieval


European town and the perfect gateway into the region. Its narrow streets are lined with 1300 half- timbered houses, all dating back over eight centuries. Just a short hop from the mountains, the town also has a notable church, St. Servatius, which is an architectural masterpiece. Legend has it that this is where Henry I was invested as the fi rst king of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.


LUTHER CITY OF EISLEBEN: Protestant reformer Martin Luther was born and


died in this city. As a seminal character in 16th century theology, his infl uence on the Protestant Reformation forever changed Christianity and led to the split from the Roman Catholic Church. There are a range of signifi cant memorials to the man here including a new museum, housed in the residence where he died, portraying his life and times.


THE MINES OF RAMMELSBERG, GOSLAR & THE UPPER HARZ WATER


MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: It was mining which brought prosperity to the region and its unique mining features and traditions are shown to best effect at the Rammelsberg Mine. This is the only mine in the world which consistently mined ore for over 1,000 years. The UNESCO status for the mine includes the nearby imperial city of Goslar,


another half-timbered gem, and the Upper Harz Water Management System (pictured below), the world’s largest and most important pre-industrial energy supply system. Visitors can tour all three for a hat-trick of technological and cultural sites.


ITINERARY PLANNING Visitors to the Harz Mountains can easily combine the UNESCO sites with outdoor active adventures including hiking and cycling in summer or tobogganing and skiing in winter. There are also excellent spas in the region. In addition to the world-class sightseeing, Harz


National Park is a key drawcard as the home to rare plants and animals that include wild boar, red deer and wild cats such as the lynx, which was reintroduced in 2000. Popular with nature lovers and walkers, it is


known for its famous walking trails including the Goethe Trail and the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg (or Witches) Trail which lead towards the soaring peak of the Brocken, the highest mountain in North Germany at 3743ft (1,141m). This is also an historic landscape as the border which separated East and West Germany ran right through the Harz region. The Brocken was once where the Russian military and East German secret police sat eavesdropping on communications from the West and is now an important symbol of the modern, reunifi ed Germany. The mountain has also long been at the centre of stories about the devil and witchcraft.


The details


Getting there: The best way to access the Harz region from the UK is by plane to Hannover or Halle/Leipzig from several UK airports. Getting around: Road and rail links are good and the Harz can be explored on foot, by bike, or on its network of old narrow-gauge railways. The Harz narrow-gauge railway is the longest of its type in Europe and its impressive steam trains puff as powerfully now as they did 100


years ago on the 140km network. Must do: Hike the beautiful landscapes of the Upper Harz Water Management System. Or take the narrow gauge train from Wernigerode to the top of the Brocken mountain. Tourist offi ce: Harz Mountains Tourist Board T: +49 5321 3404-0 F: +49 5321 3404-66 E: info@harzinfo.de W: http://en.harzinfo.de or www.harzinfo.de


sellingtravel.co.uk


HARZWASSERWERKE


HARZER TOURIST BOARD M. GLOGER


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108