Königshütte: Hiking Trails, Throne Circle and Königsburg Castle

Hiking trails by the reservoir and on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg

The circular hiking trail around the Königshütte Reservoir includes sections of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg and the Trail of German Emperors and Kings of the Middle Ages in the Harz. The Trogfurther Bridge is a Harzer Wandernadel stamp station by the dam of the Königshütte transfer reservoir. This means that both a circular trail and a hiking stamp station are among the area's specific hiking highlights.

The Throne Circle on the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg is in Königshütte, by a spring at the former Königsburg Castle, on the fourth stage and near the long-distance trail's north-south junction. Three oversized wooden thrones invite you to sit down there. The combination of its precise location on the trail and its unusual seating makes the Throne Circle a distinctive spot for anyone interested in the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg.

The Königsburg Castle ruins and the confluence of the Bode rivers

The Königsburg Castle ruins lie on the outskirts of Königshütte, the remains of a noble castle dating from the 13th or 14th century. Parts of the keep, as well as ditches and ramparts, are still clearly visible. These are tangible traces of a medieval structure, whose history can be explored in a different way from the hiking trails by the reservoir.

Below the ruins, the Warme Bode and Kalte Bode rivers meet. One source puts the difference in their water temperatures at two degrees.

Hiking options in the wider Oberharz am Brocken destination

In the wider Oberharz am Brocken destination, two moderate hikes can be easily distinguished by distance and time. One 2.8-kilometre hike passes through mixed forest to the Krockstein viewpoint; the stated walking time is 55 minutes. Check current trail conditions before setting out. Near Hasselfelde, a moderate circular trail goes around the Hasselvorsperre reservoir: it is 5.5 kilometres long, with a stated duration of one hour and 28 minutes. The different time estimates help you plan your hiking day around the time you have available.

The Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus also offers a distinctive experience in the wider destination. From early April to the end of October, traditional earth kilns are built, fired and harvested there, offering a chance to see the old charcoal-burning craft in action. The charcoal-making museum gives an impression of the difficult working and living conditions of charcoal burners. The craft and its history can therefore be experienced in different ways.

Local history and distinctive buildings in Hasselfelde and Stiege

Hasselfelde combines hiking and history: its network of trails includes the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg, nature trails and the Köhlerweg; the trails provide access on foot to local sights and excursion destinations. In the Haus des Gastes, the local history room tells the story of the town and the lives of its residents. The Blumenau Museum presents the life and work of chemist and emigrant Hermann Blumenau through pictures and text. St. Anthony's Church is a three-aisled Gothic basilica.

In Stiege, landscape, architecture and railway history come together: Lake Stieger See lies in the middle of the village, surrounded by green meadows and forests. The stave church is considered the only religious building in Germany in the Norwegian dragon style. The Selketal Railway includes the turning loop in Stiege, described as the smallest in Europe. For hikers walking multi-day stages, Stiege is also associated with the history trail “Paths of German Emperors and Kings,” the Selketal-Stieg and the VIA ROMEA.

More places to discover in the Oberharz

The Rübeland stalactite caves are right in the centre of Rübeland. In Neuwerk, the traditional Grasedanz festival is all about the hay harvest. If you are including the Harz narrow-gauge railway in your plans, daily trips to the Brocken or into the Selketal are listed from Hasselfelde. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Choose your holiday base according to your interests

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by deciding what you would most like to focus on: would you like the hiking trails and castle ruins in Königshütte to shape your holiday, or would you also like to include charcoal making, railways, local history and landscapes in the wider Oberharz am Brocken destination? This lets you choose a holiday base based on the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rübeland, Benneckenstein, Trautenstein, Hasselfelde, Elend, Neuwerk, Stiege, Elbingerode

Back to the wider travel guide: Oberharz Am Brocken.