Nordhausen between Karst and Mining

Hiking through the South Harz gypsum karst landscape

The Karst Hiking Trail explores the South Harz gypsum karst landscape from Lower Saxony through northern Thuringia to Saxony-Anhalt. In the district of Nordhausen, it runs 56 kilometres from east to west. This makes it possible to consider a longer stretch as a hiking option in its own right, while individual traces of nature and history add a special dimension to the route.

The Feuersalamander Trail is part of the Karst Hiking Trail and leads below and over the Mühlberg in the nature reserve. The route passes through a gypsum karst uvala and by sinkholes, spoil heaps, caves and historic traces. If you are interested in the formations of the karst, you can relate these landscape features to traces of human use along the way. The South Harz Nature Park Information Centre in Neustadt has an interactive exhibition offering insights into the gypsum karst landscape and the distinctive features of the South Harz.

Mining history underground

The Rabensteiner Stollen in Ilfeld is the only hard coal visitor mine in central Germany. A guided tour takes you through almost 300 years of Harz hard coal mining history. You can see the last remains of hard coal, fossils, authentic workplaces, mined-out seams and workings that are often only 60 centimetres high. The Rabenstein-Express mine train first travels 500 metres into the mountain; the route then continues into 18th-century mining areas.

The ride on the mine train is part of the tour. It is a distinct part of the visit before you continue into the historic mining areas. If you plan to visit the mine, check the current tour arrangements in advance. This will allow you to include the underground experience in your day’s itinerary.

Culture, food and regional history

The Ilfeld Local History Museum presents the history of Ilfeld and Wiegersdorf. For a different kind of historical experience, the “From Grain to Grain” tour at the Echter Nordhäuser Traditional Distillery takes you through a historic complex: from the mill room to the distillery room, spirits storehouse, office, barrel cellar and Henriette Bar. A tasting of the distillery’s own premium spirits and liqueurs takes place there. The tour’s availability depends on the date, so check the current offering before making plans.

The Hohnstein Castle Inn also combines regional cuisine with a historic setting. Located amid the ruins of Hohnstein Castle, it serves upscale traditional German cuisine and regional specialities. The terrace overlooks Neustadt and the South Harz. If you plan to dine at the restaurant, check its current opening status before travelling.

Nature experiences and seasonal activities

The Neustadt Forest Swimming Pool has a water slide, a paddling pool, a diving facility with one- and three-metre boards, a playground, and football, volleyball and table tennis courts. As a seasonal leisure facility, the pool offers a different kind of holiday activity from the hiking trails and visitor mine. Check its opening status and facilities before your visit.

Activities for children in Harztor include the Harztor Hiking Kids. Programme details may vary, so find out about the current activities in advance. The Harz Narrow Gauge Railway may also be worth considering for getting around: it connects Wernigerode in the northern Harz with Nordhausen in the southern Harz foothills. If you would like to include a train journey, take the specific route into account when planning.

Choose the right holiday apartment for your travel priorities

There is also the seasonal forest swimming pool and activities for children in Harztor. Consider which experiences matter most to you, and plan your days around the conditions for visiting each attraction. That way, you can choose a holiday apartment that suits your preferred holiday pace, rather than treating every outing as the same kind of experience.

Discover more destinations: Ilfeld, Neustadt/Harz, Nordhausen, Hesserode, Hohenstein, Rodishain, Sülzhayn, Niedersachswerfen, Werther, Windehausen, Hainrode/Hainleite, Ellrich, Hainleite, Wolkramshausen, Heringen/Helme, Niedergebra, Bleicherode, Auleben, Harztor, Harzungen, Hamma.

To the higher-level travel overview: Thuringia.