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Risskante

Hiking in the Harz

Selketal-Stieg

© Jürgen Meusel

If you want to enjoy pure nature, marvel at varied landscapes and experience living history, then head to the Selketal-Stieg. The 69 km long trail starts in Stiege, at the station of the Selketalbahn. After a few kilometres the Selke comes to light. Behind the Albrechtshaus, the Duchy of Anhalt is at its end. The Selketal-Stieg continues through the nature reserve Oberes Selketal to the Mühlteich in Güntersberge. Strassberg stands for a long mining tradition. Next you reach Alexisbad, the first seaside resort of Anhalt. This is where the cliff path begins. It connects several rock formations. Memorials and viewpoints allow you to discover new and historical things again and again. On the pioneer trail, you pass through a tunnel to the Mägdetrappe. From here you can see the Selketal in all its beauty upwards. Through the production of iron works of art, Mägdesprung became known far beyond the Harz Mountains in the 19th centuryThe Selketalbahn leaves the valley and puffs over the mountains towards Gernrode to Quedlinburg. Passing the Carlswerk, the trail leads through the narrowest part of the valley. At the Selkemühle, a detour to the castle ruin Anhalt is a good idea. The valley now continues and shows itself from its sweet side. For 8 km the trail passes through a nature reserve with unique flora and fauna. The next destination could be Burg Falkenstein, combined with a short steep ascent. The Selketal-Stieg continues to Meisdorf with its baroque castle. Now the trail goes to Ballenstedt, always with a wide view of the Harz foothills and impressive sandstone cliffs. Castle and castle park Ballenstedt invite you to linger. Passing the Roseburg garden monument, we continue along the Harz rim to Gernrode. The more than 1,000-year-old Collegiate Church of St. Cyriacus has remained almost unchanged since the Ottonian era. The panoramic trail leads to Bad Suderode and on to QuarmbeckSoon the castle hill of Quedlinburg appears with the sublime Collegiate Church in the field of view. Through the Brühlpark you will reach the old town of Quedlinburg the end point of the Selketal-Stieg.

Harzer Klosterwanderweg

Gernrode
Collegiate church St. Cyriakus - Photo: Jürgen Meusel

Monasteries were and are treasures of history, places of knowledge and preservation, places of prayer. Today you can find many well-preserved monasteries and churches, some with important church treasures, in the Harz.
On the Harz Monastery Hiking Trail your body, mind and soul have the opportunity to find relaxation. Come to rest and relax on a walk with natural trails between the Neuwerkkirche Goslar, the monasteries in Drübeck and Ilsenburg to the Marienkloster in Quedlinburg.
In addition to cultural and historical treasures, the trail captivates through the varied, picturesque landscape of the Harz Mountains.
The tour on the Harzer Klosterwanderweg starts e.g. at the Marienkloster in Quedlinburg and continues through romantic mixed forests along the Collegiate Church St. Cyriakus in Gernrode and then past the monastery Wendhusen in Thale and the mountain church St. Bartholomäus along the Harz rim to the monastery Michaelstein to Blankenburg.
The next stage takes you to Wernigerode, the “colourful town” of the Harz over the so-called “Himmelpforte” (“sky gate”) in the district Hasserode. Along the national park Harz, we continue via Drübeck to Ilsenburg. The two monasteries Drübeck and Ilsenburg at the Romanesque Road impress with their well-preserved building structure, which was also teh backdrop for films such as “Die Päpstin”.
Along the "Green Belt", in the former inner-German border region, the trail connects Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony. It leads through the Eckertal, past the adventure farm Hasenbald with a forest café, to Stapelburg and Abbenrode. As a backdrop, the Brocken (1141 m) is always perched far above the low mountain landscape. Enjoy the original landscape on your further journey from Abbenrode to Lochtum and the monastery Wöltingerode near Vienenburg.
A start from Goslar is also possible. The hike then leads first to Grauhof, then via Wöltingerode to the stations Ilsenburg and Drübeck and possibly further to Wernigerode and Blankenburg as well as Thale.

Much more

Whether along the Bode to the Teufelsmauer or on the Observation Point Round Trail - around Quedlinburg there are several hiking destinations. The team of the Quedlinburg Information will be happy to advise you on the various options. Of course, there are also the right maps of walks to buy on site. You can also order a small selection directly in our online shop: >> to the webshop

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