Holiday in Wernigerode

What makes Wernigerode special as a destination?

Wernigerode is a half-timbered town on the northern edge of the Harz mountains in Saxony-Anhalt, known as "the colorful town on the Harz." With over 1,000 lovingly restored half-timbered houses from five centuries, a fairytale castle, and the legendary Harz narrow-gauge railway to the Brocken, Wernigerode is one of the most popular travel destinations in Central Germany. Wernigerode Castle towers on a mountain spur above the town: Originally a medieval fortress from the 12th century, it was magnificently remodeled in the 19th century in the style of historicism. The interior rooms, including the grand hall, church hall, and princely chambers, are open to the public and offer a panoramic view over the old town to the Brocken. The town hall at the marketplace is a jewel of North German half-timbered architecture: built in 1498, with carved wooden figures and pointed turrets, it is considered one of the most beautiful town halls in Germany. The marketplace, with its charity fountain and surrounding half-timbered houses, is a popular filming location. The Harz narrow-gauge railways (HSB) operate the famous Brocken railway from Wernigerode: steam locomotives pull trains on narrow gauge through spruce forests, over viaducts, and past Schierke to the Brocken (1,141 m), the highest mountain in Northern Germany. The 34-kilometer route is one of the most spectacular steam train experiences in Europe. The smallest house in Wernigerode, located on Kochstrasse, is only 4.20 meters high and 2.95 meters wide — a tiny half-timbered house from the 18th century where families actually lived.