Wernigerode

Described by the German heath poet, Hermann Löns, as the "brightly coloured town by the Harz", Wernigerode is an attractive destination on the Holtemme river, nestling against the northern foothills of said mountain range.

Understand
Wernigeorde's charm — derived from its impressive medieval-era Old Town with its fascinating fairy-tale castle and rows of centuries-old timber-framed houses — have led to it becoming a popular waystop on two major tourist routes: the German Timber-Framed Road and the Orange Route, a German-Dutch holiday road. The town is also a good base for exploring the northern Harz on foot or by mountain bike.



History
Wernigerode is first recorded in 1121 when it was the seat of the medieval County of Wernigerode, a status it held until 1429. It was during that time, in 1229, that it was granted town rights. Wernigerode's heyday came during the 14th and 15th centuries as it grew wealthy through trading in cloth, beer and brandy. However, it suffered from plague epidemics in the 16th century as well as the ravages of the Thirty Years' War and fell into decline.

From 1645 to 1807, Wernigerode was the seat of the County of Stolberg-Wernigerode. At the end of the 18th century, the town's economy picked up again, this time based on tanning and the manufacture of cloth and linen. In 1815 it was absorbed into the Prussian Province of Saxony. During the Industrial Revolution, new metal and wood industries settling here. The railways arrived in 1872, the same year that the Harz's best known brewery, the Hasseröder Brauerei, was founded.

After the Second World War, Wernigerode fell on the East German side of the Inner German Border in the newly-created state Saxony-Anhalt. Wernigerode became part of the restored state of Saxony-Anhalt in 1990 after German reunification and did not take long to restore the beauty of its timber-framed town houses. Wernigerode has a population of about 35,000.

By car
Wernigerode has two junctions (Wernigerode-Nord and Wernigerode-Zentrum) on the B 6, a motorway-like dual carriageway that runs along the northern edge of the Harz from west to east. The B 6 branches off the A 7 motorway near Goslar and the A 395 motorway from Brunswick to Vienenburg.

By train
is on the Heudeber-Danstedt–Vienenburg line with two-hourly services that run between Hanover and Halle using the Harzexpress.

Wernigerode is also the main depot and terminus on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways. Trains, including steam-hauled services, than run to various destinations in the Harz, including its highest mountain, the Brocken.

Tip: The HarzTourCard enables you to travel by bus, train and narrow gauge train (except trains to the summit of Brocken) as much as you like within three days. It costs for a single card,  for a family.

By plane
Wernigerode is about 1 hr 15 min by car from Hanover airport and about 1½ hours from Leipzig airport.

On foot
The vast majority of Wernigerode's important tourist sites are contained within the compact area of the old town, whose narrow cobbled streets aren't particularly amenable to motorized transportation. Walking is probably the most sensible way to get around.

By car
If you're staying in a further-flung area, your best bet is to leave your car at one of the several car parks or roadside parking meter bays near the centre.

By bus
The local public transport organization Harzer Verkehrsbetriebe (HVB) operates a municipal bus network throughout the city, consisting of four lines that converge on the, located at Ringstraße 31 in the centre of town. Regular buses run seven days a week, from roughly 06:00 until 19:00 on weekdays and 09:00 until 17:30 on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. From roughly 19:00 until 00:00, there's also more limited service courtesy of a night bus (Abendlinie). HVB's website includes a system map and schedules for each route.

See
Wernigerode has a wealth of historic sights and curiosities. Without a shadow of doubt, though, its top sights are its preserved medieval castle overlooking the town and its splendid town hall. But wandering around its ancient, sometimes still cobbled streets, the tourist will come across rows of colourful timber-framed houses and oddities like the Leaning House and the tiny "Smallest House" in Wernigerode, as well as museums that reflect the town's history and culture.

Houses

 * The smallest house in Wernigerode is now a museum; see below.
 * The smallest house in Wernigerode is now a museum; see below.
 * The smallest house in Wernigerode is now a museum; see below.
 * The smallest house in Wernigerode is now a museum; see below.

Do
There are several worthwhile walks in the local area, but Wernigerode is also a great starting base for exploring the Harz by rail, road, mountain bike or on foot.

Hiking
Wernigerode is a great starting point for hiking in the northern Harz and the Harz Club (Harzklub) maintains hundreds of miles of trail and organises guided walks. For more information contact at their local branch: Volker Friedrich, Horstberg 18, 38855 Wernigerode,.



Skiing
Visiting during the winter months? Several ski resorts are located on the Lower Saxony side of the Harz mountains, 20-30 km west and south of Werningerode. Though they are not as big and internationally renowned as the ones in the Alps they are still there. Refer to the Goslar, Braunlage and Clausthal-Zellerfeld articles for more information.

Buy




Eat
Wernigerode has a range of good restaurants and cafes to tempt the palate, whatever your budget. It's well worth sampling the regional specialities such as game dishes and local cakes (such Harzer Baumkuchen or Brockentorte).

Connect
Wernigerode's is located at Minslebener Straße 19, about a kilometer outside the Old Town. It's open on weekdays from 09:00-12:30 and 13:00-17:00, and on Saturdays until 12:00.

There are no Internet cafés in town, but most hotels (and many other public places) offer public WiFi for free or for a nominal charge.

Go next

 * Blankenburg, a historic, timber-framed town and castle on the northern rim of the Harz (20 min by road)
 * Brocken, the highest mountain in the Harz, accessible by steam railway from Wernigerode.
 * Halberstadt, the "Gateway to the Harz" from the north, contains many medieval buildings including a trio of 11th- and 12th-century churches.
 * Quedlinburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to still more historic timber-framed buildings
 * Brunswick, the Lion City, north of Wernigerode (about 30 min by road)
 * Goslar, ancient imperial town on the northwestern edge of the Harz (about 20 min by road)
 * Halle, Saxony-Anhalt's largest city (about 1 hr 20 min by road)
 * Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt's capital, a medieval city on the River Elbe (about 1 hr 10 min by road)
 * Schierke, home to a well-known local drink, Schierker Feuerstein.