Hahnenklee to Goslar via the "Old Harz Road"

It is the formerly frequently mentioned and much-used traffic route from Goslar to Osterode, which at the time of its construction still led through very inaccessible and uninhabited terrain. When the northern German cities experienced a great upswing after the year 1200 through the formation of the Hanseatic League, sending their goods far inland, it became necessary for Goslar to seek a connection southwards to the major highways to southern Germany. The route northwest around the Harz was blocked. Thus, the Goslar-Osterode traffic route was established. The exact date cannot be specified, it was probably already built around the year 1200 or shortly thereafter. It led from Goslar out to the slate quarries, soon after it touched the "Zipollenbleek", i.e., Kapellenbleek. At the highest point of the road – on the Thomas-Martin(s) mountain just before the 'Auerhahn' – there was an iron-forged cross. Apparently, this was the spot where one had the best view of the area. At today's 'Auerhahn' the path then leads through the depression between Bocksberg and Schalke or Kahlenberg; this depression was then called the "Hohe Kehl".

Hobby local historian Hermann Behrens (1901-1980)