Rail & Trail through the Harz Mountains

Today we travel by train through central Germany via Hannover and Goslar to the medieval town of Wernigerode where we’ll stay for the remainder of the week. After settling in at the hotel, there’ll be a guided walking tour of the town to discover its narrow streets, half-timbered houses, and famous town hall. 

Departing directly from the hotel we’ll head through a forest trail on the Zilierbach with a small detour to the top of Scharfenstein for great views of the Harz Mountains and the 1142m peak of Brocken. We continue climbing to the Kaiserturm Tower for impressive panoramas over the town before heading to Wernigerode Castle where there’s a guided tour. We’ll return to the town either on foot or by the castle’s railway. 

Distance: 8 miles (13 km) 

Ascent and Descent: 1300 ft (400m) 

A 30-minute train ride takes us to the historic town of Goslar. Nestled on the north-west slopes of the Harz Mountains, this medieval marvel has been an important silver and copper mining centre for over 1000 years. Tour the town’s charming old quarter and the nearby Rammelsberg mines – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites – and discover the royal past of Kaiserpfalz Imperial Palace (birthplace of Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV). There’ll also be lunch in a brewery house. We return to Wernigerode by train.  

Distance: 2 miles (3.21 km) 

Ascent: Little to no ascent 

The highlight of today is a steam train ride to the top of the Brocken, the highest peak (1142m) in the Harz. During the Cold War the Harz Mountains were divided by the Iron Curtain. While western Germany modernised, the Soviet side continued to use the narrow-gauge railway system and today the steam train is preserved like a working museum piece. Enjoy lunch with a view in the café at the summit before heading through the Steinerne Renne area and the idyllic Hasserode district back to Wernigerode.  

Distance: 10.5 miles (17 km) (option to shorten available) 

Ascent and Descent: 2800 ft (910m) 

UNESCO-listed Quedlinburg is our destination on day six. Explore medieval streets and squares surrounded by half-timbered houses on our guided walking tour and stop for lunch in a traditional restaurant. Afterwards, we’ll walk through the Münzenberg district and follow the Bornholzweg route into the Eselstall Forest. Ascending along a tree-lined path, we’ll reach the Altenburgwarte observation tower for views over the sandstone Altenburg ridge before heading back to town via the remarkable Romanesque St Wipertikirche church.  

Distance: 6.8 miles (11km) 

Ascent and Descent: 138m (450ft) 

Our final day follows the so-called monastery path to Ilsenburg. Along the way, we’ll tick off a trio of spectacular monastic sites. Marvel at the ruins of Himmelpforten Monastery, explore the gardens of Drubeck Monastery and visit the 1000-year-old hermitage in the medieval heart of Ilsenburg. 

Distance: 9 miles (15 km) 

Ascent and Descent: 920 ft (280m) 

Today we say goodbye to the Harz Mountains and head back to Cologne by train via Hannover and Goslar for a final night in the city and free time to explore. 

Depart Germany and take a relaxing rail journey back to Brussels and then onward to London St Pancras aboard the Eurostar.