Selketal-Stieg 4: From Selkemühle via Falkenstein Castle to Meisdorf

"... the beautiful Selke, the beautiful, lovable lady, whose noble simplicity and cheerful calm keeps away all sentimental familiarity, but who yet reveals her teasing spirit through a half-hidden smile." HEINRICH HEINE (1797 – 1856) about the Selke in his Harz journey

Even 200 years later, this description of the Selke still applies – especially here on the fourth stage.

You begin your hike on the fourth stage at the parking lot at Selkemühle. From here you have the opportunity to make a short detour to the Anhalt castle ruins, where there is another stamping point of the Harzer Wandernadel.

At Selkemühle, the narrow valley opens into a wide, light-flooded meadow landscape. The Selketal-Stieg follows the river course. The path is wide and well secured. It can be managed without climbs. This stage is particularly suitable for leisurely bike excursions and as a Nordic Walking course. The Selketal-Stieg runs here on the Meisdorf nature adventure trail and offers a lot of variety, especially for children. The Selke often flows quietly and wide. Since it is very shallow here, you can wonderfully cool your feet from hiking. With practiced eyes, you can spot the famous Selke stones, which shimmer like a treasure in the riverbed as "blue gold." The stones remind one of mining. They consist of slag that was washed into the river.

The lower Selketal is an FFH protected area and very species-rich. In the autumn months, the red deer rut can be observed here – an impressive experience.

After a few kilometers, you reach the rest area at Mettenberg. Here is the stamping point 203 of the Harzer Wandernadel.

Then you continue hiking to the holiday accommodation at the Thalmühle, which offers a regional snack all year round on weekends.

Between the Thalmühle and the subsequent Inn Zum Falken is the Eselsstieg – the ascent to Falkenstein Castle, one of the most beautiful medieval castles in the Harz. From Falkenstein Castle, you have a breathtaking view over the Selketal. The permanent exhibition deals with the Sachsenspiegel, the most famous medieval legal book. It probably originated between 1220 and 1230 in the northeastern Harz area. Here too, you can reward yourself with a hiking stamp.

Back on the Selketal-Stieg, you pass the Inn Zum Falken and cross the Selke. Along the riverbank, you hike on the nature adventure trail to Meisdorf. Impressive tree roots provide strength for the last meters. The stamping point 207 is located at the mausoleum.

The stage destination is Meisdorf, a district of the town Falkenstein/Harz. You will find accommodation options, an 18-hole golf course, and can learn about the local history at the Meisdorf Museum Farm. The Selketal-Stieg crosses here the Eurovelo R1, the D3 route, the Harz round trail, as well as the 4th stage of the Genuss Bike Paradise route through the Harz.

From Meisdorf, excursions to the nearby Konradsburg and to the Degnershausen landscape park are possible.

Sturdy hiking boots, drinks and provisions for the way. Possibly poles.

Konradsburg

Add an excursion to Konradsburg in Ermsleben to your stage.

Degnershausen Landscape Park

The landscape park in Wieserode is one of the garden dreams in Saxony-Anhalt and is designed in the English style.

There is an unpaved hiking parking lot at Selkemühle.

At the destination Meisdorf, you park in the parking lot on the alley.

A bus connection is only available at the destination in Meisdorf:

www.insa.de

www.harzinfo-shop.de/onlineshop/kartenmaterial

Selketal Information Gartenhaus, OT Pansfelde, 06543 Falkenstein/Harz, Tel. 034743 5 35 65, postfach@stadt-falkenstein-harz.de,www.dasselketal.de

Selketal Information Ballenstedt, Anhaltiner Platz 7, 06493 Ballenstedt, Tel. 039483 263, kontakt@ballenstedt-information.de

​Selketal Information Harzgerode, Schlossberg 3, 06493 Harzgerode, Tel. 039484 74 76 123, stadtinfo@harzgerode.de