Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [196]
Mother Lode Descend rocky shafts into the mining past in Clausthal-Zellerfeld and explore 1000 years of mining history in Goslar
Mountain Steaming Wind through the spectacular wilds of the Selketal from Quedlinburg or Gernrode on a steam train Click here
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Information
The main information centre for the Harz Mountains is the Harzer Verkehrsverband ( 05321-340 40; www.harzinfo.de; Marktstrasse 45; 8am-5pm Mon-Thu, to 2pm Fri) in Goslar, but information on the Eastern Harz is best picked up in towns there, particularly in Wernigerode.
For information on camping, ask at any tourist office for the free Der Harz Camping brochure (in German), which lists major camping grounds and facilities that are open all year.
The kind of map that you choose will depend on the type of activity you have planned. Der Harz und Kyffhäuser 1:50,000 map (€5.80) provides a good overview of trails and major sites in the entire Harz.
A local Kurtaxe (resort tax; ranging from €0.75 to €3 per night) is charged in most towns. Your resort card will give various discounts on sights and activities. Discount offers include the HarzTourCard (three days, €18), which gives free travel and reduced admission to attractions, and the HarzMobilCard (one month, €13), which is transferable and entitles the user to concession-priced tickets on buses, trains and any other public transport in the Harz region. A four-day HarzCard (adult/child €27/17) gives free admission to most major museums and includes a return trip on the Brockenbahn to the summit of the Brocken.
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Activities
CYCLING
Anyone seeking a challenge will enjoy cycling or mountain biking in the Harz, especially in quieter eastern areas. Buses will transport your bike when space allows.
HIKING
The main attraction in summer is hiking the integrated trail network in the Harz National Park. Trail symbols are colour-coded in red, green, blue and yellow on a square or triangular plate. Harzklub (www.harzklub.de, in German) hiking association maps also show trail numbers; the 1:50,000 editions are the best for hikers. Harzklub offices in mountain towns are also good sources of information, including hiking tips, itineraries and the availability of partners and guides. Tourist offices also stock the club’s leaflets. Weather conditions can change quickly throughout the year; be prepared.
SKIING
The main centres for downhill skiing are Braunlage, Hahnenklee and St Andreasberg, with many other smaller runs dotted throughout the mountains. The quality of the slopes might disappoint real enthusiasts; conditions for cross-country skiing, however, can be excellent, with lots of well-marked trails and equipment-hire shops. For weather reports and snow conditions, ring the Harzer Verkehrsverband ( 05321-340 40). There’s also a German-language information service ( 05321-200 24).
SPAS
Often mocked by young Germans as a pensioners’ paradise, the Harz is sprinkled with thermal spas and baths where the weary and/or infirm can take a cure. Most spa towns have a Kurzentrum (spa centre) or Kurverwaltung (spa administration), which often doubles as a tourist office.
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Getting There & Away
The area’s main towns of Goslar, Wernigerode and Quedlinburg are serviced by frequent trains; contact Deutsche Bahn ( reservations 118 61, automated timetable information 0800-150 7090; www.bahn.de).
BerlinLinienBus (www.berlinlinienbus.de) connects Berlin with Goslar (one way €29, six hours) and some smaller towns, and there are plenty of regional bus services to take you further into the mountains.
If you’re driving, the area’s main arteries are the east–west B6 and the north–south B4, which are accessed via the A7 (skirting the western edge of the Harz on its way south from Hanover) and the A2 (running north of the Harz between Hanover and Berlin).
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Getting Around
The Harz is one