The small village of Elend lies in the Upper Harz region and is a district of the town 'Oberharz am Brocken'. Elend impresses with its unspoilt nature, its quiet and relaxed location far away from the noise of big cities and its proximity to the legendary Mount Brocken.
As a stopping point for the historic steam locomotives of the Harz Narrow-Gauge Railways on their way to the Brocken, Elend offers its visitors a special attraction. Also worth seeing is the landmark of the town, the smallest wooden church in Germany. The church is a timber-frame building built in 1897, with a small size of 5 by 11 metres, and 80 seats. The wooden altar of the church was placed on rollers for reasons of space.
On hot days, a lido beautifully situated on the edge of the forest, provides cooling for young and old. A swimming pool, a water slide, a children's pool, a lily pond, a beach volleyball court and a grassy sunbathing area offer water fun and relaxation.
The beautiful natural surroundings, a well-maintained network of hiking trails and the proximity to Mount Brocken as well as the long-distance walking trail, Harzer-Hexen-Stieg passing close by, makes Elend a popular holiday destination for hikers.
In winter Elend welcomes its visitors with well groomed network of cross-country ski-trails in a beautiful snowy landscape.
