Discover Stolberg: Half-timbered town, castle history and hiking trails

Stolberg (Harz) stands out for its cohesive ensemble of half-timbered houses: nearly 400 of them shape the townscape. In this historic half-timbered town, you can see buildings from more than six centuries, including half-timbered structures in the Late Gothic and Renaissance styles. This lets you discover different architectural forms not only individually, but also as part of a townscape that has developed over time.

Half-timbered houses, castle history and architecture

From the early 13th century until 1945, Stolberg Castle was the residence of the Counts and Princes of Stolberg. The castle is also connected to a personal story: Juliana of Stolberg and Wernigerode was born there in 1506. The history of the ruling family and Juliana’s biography offer two distinct ways to get to know Stolberg’s past. Juliana’s birth year, 1506, falls within the period when the castle served as the residence of the Counts and Princes. This connects one moment in an individual life with the long history of the castle as a residence and shows that the biographical and political perspectives clearly overlap in time.

Another cultural and historical highlight is the ALTE MÜNZE museum complex. Since 2025, it has housed four permanent exhibitions in two interconnected buildings, updated in content and enhanced with multimedia. It also features a coin workshop unique in Europe, with original 18th-century coin-making machines. Here, a contemporary exhibition setup meets historic coin-making technology.

St. Martini Church also brings together architecture and history: it is the church where Thomas Müntzer was baptised and a unique building that combines several architectural periods. It complements the half-timbered houses with a different perspective on Stolberg’s architectural history. Anyone interested in historic architecture can discover both a significant biographical connection and several periods represented in a single building.

Hiking trails and places to visit

The Obere Bandweg is a signposted, moderately challenging hiking trail around the historic town of Stolberg. Several access and exit points provide different starting options for the walk. Along the way, viewpoints offer views of Stolberg and the surrounding beech forests. Allow just under eleven kilometres and up to four hours of hiking time for the Obere and Untere Bandweg trails combined.

The Joseph Cross is a viewpoint and a popular destination for families and hikers. The Alte Auerbergstraße leads from Stolberg uphill to Josephshöhe, the southern summit of the Auerberg. These details give you concrete points of reference if you would like to include a hike or viewpoint in your travel plans alongside the historic buildings.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Stolberg, you can start by deciding what kind of holiday you want: will half-timbered houses, castle history and museums be the focus, or would you prefer to set aside more time for hiking trails and viewpoints? This question about your interests gives your travel plans a clear direction.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wickerode, Dietersdorf, Uftrungen, Schwenda, Breitungen, Hainrode, Breitenstein.

For the overview of the wider region: Südharz.