"The colourful town of the Harz Mountains"
The popular town of Wernigerode with its historic town centre and lavishly restored and colourful half-timbered houses lies on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains. The epithet "colourful town of the Harz Mountains" was coined by the German writer Hermann Löns at the end of the 19th century. The town hall on the market square, the crooked house, the smallest house and the oldest house are just some of these features that make up Wernigerode's rich half-timbered idyll.
Also worth seeing are the remains of the town fortifications, the Krummel'sche House, the front of which is completely covered with a carved wooden façade, and of course Wernigerode Castle®, which towers majestically over the town and provides visitors with interesting information about the 800-year history of the counts and princes of Wernigerode in living rooms, some of which were originally furnished by the German aristocracy. The castle gardens (terrace garden and pleasure garden) are part of the 'Garden Dreams', a state project. A circular walk offers a wonderful opportunity to combine a visit to the castle, terrace garden and pleasure garden with a hike with a great view.
The miniature park "Small Harz" in Wernigerode's public park offers a chance to marvel at the Harz Mountains in miniature. With its recreational areas, themed gardens, lake promenade, pet enclosure, lookout tower and mineral gorge, the park is also an ideal excursion destination for the whole family.
Another highlight for young and old is the 'Hasseröder Ferienpark' (Hasseröder Holiday Park). With a large adventure pool, the wellness and sauna area, a bowling and skittles centre and the indoor play world, it offers a special experience.
You can find out interesting facts about various topics, for example, in the Aviation Museum, in the Krell Forge of 1678, in the Harz Planetarium and in the Wernigerode Fire Brigade Museum.
And if you want to explore the beautiful landscape of the Harz Mountains around Wernigerode and the legendary Mount Brocken in a unique way, combine your hike with a ride on the historic steam locomotive of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways.
In winter, Wernigerode offers its guests the only ski lift in the eastern Harz in a snowy landscape. You can find more information on this on our winter sports page: wintersport.harzinfo.de
