“What, you’ve never been to the Harz?” We’ve actually heard sentences like that a few times. You live in Germany for almost 30 years and have never been to the Harz! Crazy world! Last year, during our tour through Germany, a stop in the Harz was planned at the end. However, we spontaneously changed this route and drove home from Leipzig.
After two months of intensive travel, we simply didn’t have the energy left. Therefore, we were all the more delighted to receive an invitation from the lovely staff at Saxony-Anhalt Tourism to explore the Harz for a few days. So sit back, and we’ll reveal our best Wernigerode tips and highlights.
- Our accommodation in Wernigerode
- Wernigerode Town Hall
- Wernigerode Tips – Try Snowballs
- The Leaning House and the Small House
- The lush green Lustgarten
- The beautiful Wernigerode Castle
- The charming Heideviertel region
- Food and Drink in Wernigerode
- Wellness at the Travel Charme Gothic House
- Wernigerode Tips – Discounts with the Harz Card
- Conclusion on Wernigerode
Our accommodation in Wernigerode
We started our tour in the charming town of Wernigerode. From here, we wanted to explore the various towns in the region. After a long but relaxing drive from Rostock to the Harz Mountains, we reached the city center in the early afternoon.
Even while driving around the city center, we saw the many small, colorful houses, a castle on a mountain, lots of greenery, and above all, lots of blue sky and sunshine. The weather was completely on our side. Jackpot! Our first destination was the Hotel Travel Charme Gothisches Haus. We drove straight to the parking garage and then, with two small backpacks, went to reception.
“Wow! We’ve never stayed so centrally before. The hotel is right next to the town hall on the market square! Amazing!”
We received our room key and strolled up to the second floor. The door opened, and we moved into our small suite for the next few nights. A truly beautiful and very comfortable room with a cozy bed, a seating area, a bathroom with a bathtub, hairdryer, and toiletries, as well as space! Lots of space.
I (Bolle) was, of course, extremely pleased with the hotel’s sweet little gift. A few delicacies were already waiting for me to devour. And in one bite, everything was in my mouth.
Town Hall in Wernigerode
The camera batteries were charged, the sightseeing backpacks packed. We didn’t want to waste any time and headed straight to explore the town. Only a few steps separated us from the pretty town hall and the small shopping mile in Wernigerode. The Town Hall on the market square was first mentioned in 1277. Crazy, right?
The carved figures adorning the storeys and roof overhangs, as well as the Benefactor Fountain in front of the town hall, are particularly beautiful. It is probably one of the most beautiful town halls in Europe. For comparison: Google “Rathaus Neubrandenburg” to see how “pretty” the town hall in my (Bolle’s) hometown looks.
Wernigerode Tips – Try Snowballs
We turned left and promptly landed in a shop full of delicacies. For the first time in our lives, we heard of “snowballs”. These are made of shortcrust pastry and filled with various ingredients. They are quite large and keep for about 6 to 8 weeks.
Around 400 years ago, this pastry was particularly well-known and popular in Franconia. Schneeballen were usually eaten on festive occasions. We immediately jumped at the chance and bought one with nougat and coconut. At the “Diller Schneeballenträume Café,” they sell large snowballs for €3 each.
The Leaning House and the Small House
Wernigerode also has two, let’s call them “curious,” buildings. There is the town’s “Leaning House” and the “Smallest House.” The “Leaning House” is located directly behind the town hall and was built in 1680. Today it serves as a museum.
The “Smallest House” is just a 5-minute walk away and was built in 1792. It is famous for its small size. Former builders squeezed the small house into a 2.95-meter-wide gap between two houses. The front door is just 1.70 meters high. Surely you recognize the house in the following picture?!
The lush green pleasure garden
Here, it’s green as far as the eye can see! This 16th-century park is in excellent condition and invites you to linger. We had just bought an ice cream and were strolling through it. We would have loved to have a picnic here. In the 18th century, the park was transformed into a French Baroque garden and then into an English park.
The beautiful Wernigerode Castle
Even as we approached, we saw a castle on a hill near the city center from a distance. We asked for directions at the hotel reception. We strolled through the truly beautiful and relaxing pleasure garden. The castle seemed far away, but in the end, it was only a few minutes to the top. This building sits majestically on a hill, nearly 100 meters above the town of Wernigerode.
The view from the castle terrace overlooking Wernigerode, the Brocken, and the Harz – simply breathtakingly magnificent. We even explored some of the castle’s magnificent rooms, which gave the impression that a count and countess were about to pass by. This is exactly what you imagine a fairytale castle to be like. Admission to the castle costs €7 for adults and is truly worth it.
We took the Bimmelbahn (castle train) back to the city center. It runs every 30 minutes and stops at various points. Along the way, it passes the castle, the town hall, the Harz narrow-gauge railway, the Christianental wildlife park, and other historic buildings. The ride is quite bumpy and uneven, but you get there. A round-trip ticket to the castle costs €6 (free with the Harz Card).
The charming Heideviertel district
You somehow feel like you’re in the Middle Ages here, as you’re surrounded by beautiful half-timbered streets. Mittelstraße, Hinterstraße, and Heidestraße exude a charm all their own. Here, you can simply let yourself drift and admire the chic house facades. And when the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the flowers are blooming – ah… perfect! Here, you’ll also notice why Wernigerode is often called the “colorful town on the Harz Mountains.” It’s definitely a feast for the eyes!
Food and Drink in Wernigerode
The historic old town is home to a variety of restaurants and cafés. On the edge of Wernigerode’s northern commercial area is the famous Baumkuchenhaus. Here you can get the traditional Harz Baumkuchen. The on-site café offers indoor and outdoor seating amidst a peaceful and beautifully landscaped garden. With the Harz Card, you’ll receive a free slice of Baumkuchen (tree cake) and a free coffee.
You can also get truly delicious cakes at the charming Louisen Café in the old town. You can enjoy good German cuisine at the Kartoffelhaus or at the restaurant of the Travel Charme Gothisches Haus. Creative and purist regional cuisine is available at Zeitwerk. If you fancy some knuckles of pork and other hearty German dishes, head to the Hexenkessel restaurant.
Wellness at the Travel Charme Gothisches Haus
After our exciting first day, we ended up visiting the beautiful wellness area of the Travel Charme Gothisches Haus hotel in Wernigerode. On the lower floor, there are saunas, foot baths, a relaxation oasis, a small whirlpool, comfortable loungers, a steam bath, and a room for light therapy. Everything was very clean and tidy.
We particularly liked the spacious and relaxing Finnish sauna. Finally, a large sauna with great lighting and soothing music to relax to. Afterwards, we enjoyed a dip in the whirlpool and relaxed under the blankets on the loungers in the relaxation room. We hadn’t read beforehand that the hotel had a wellness area. So, our joy was all the greater when we explored this area.
Wernigerode Tips – Discounts with the Harz Card
If you’re planning a trip to the Harz Mountains and are staying in the region for several days, the Harz Card might be something for you. We ourselves had a 4-day card and made good use of it. With this card, you have 120 free entries to caves, zoos, thermal baths, castles, and other attractions. The card is also free for children up to 4 years old. This allowed us free entry to the castle and free rides on the castle train. In Wernigerode, you also get free admission to the Harz Museum, the Miniature Park, the Waldhofbad, and the Brockenbad.
You get a free ride in a covered wagon, as well as a one-way trip to or from the Brocken on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway. Even a one-time mountain bike rental is included in the price. And, as already mentioned, you get a free cup of coffee and a slice of Baumkuchen (tree cake). If you want to see and experience a lot, buying this card is worthwhile. You can find all the other discounts and information in the Harz Card booklet. The 48-hour card is available for €32 and the 4-day card for €57 per person.
Conclusion on Wernigerode
Even these first few hours in the Harz made us want more. Wernigerode is a manageable and truly charming town, making it the perfect starting point for excursions. You’ll find out everything we experienced in the coming days in the next post. Suffice it to say: adrenaline, adventure, and relaxation alternated constantly.
Are you looking for more inspiration? How about a trip to Usedom, Hanover, or Saarland? You’ll find numerous other travel destinations on our Germany country page.