On Goethe's Trail to the Brocken in the Harz National Park

"To have made a trip to the Harz and not climbed the Brocken is just as much as to have been in Rome and not seen the Pope," remarked the writer Christian Wilhelm Spieker already in the 19th century. He was not alone in this opinion, as the Blocksberg, as it was called in earlier times, had already been the central destination of Harz tourists since the 17th century. At that time, it took great effort to conquer the highest peak in northern Germany at 1141 m. Its original wilderness made the ascent difficult, as did countless weather caprices.

The Brocken is not "just any mountain," but perhaps the first touristic natural phenomenon in Germany. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe or Heinrich von Kleist were among the prominent guests even before 1800, as was the later famous Alexander von Humboldt. Many of the early Brocken hikers left their impressions to posterity in poems, travelogues, or scientific articles. While some experienced magnificent views in the sunshine, others cursed the rain, storm, and sore feet.

By the end of the 18th century, over 400 entries were consistently recorded each year in the summit books. Since 1825, the number of guests had already exceeded the 2000 mark. The attraction of the mountain and the popularity of the Goetheweg remain unbroken to this day. Thousands of hikers complete the approximately 9 km ascent from Torfhaus on the Goetheweg annually. In total, about 350 meters of elevation must be overcome on the hike, so a hiking time of 5 to 6 hours for the round trip is to be expected.

A climb of the Brocken on the Goetheweg is rightly still "the highlight" for many Harz visitors. Like a string of pearls, countless cultural-historical sights and fascinating natural phenomena are found along the route. With the help of this hiking app, you can discover the many small and large, visible and invisible wonders by the wayside.

Since 1990, the Brocken has been located in the heart of the Hochharz National Park, which was merged in 2006 with the Lower Saxony National Park to form the cross-state Harz National Park. With an area of 250 km², the park is one of the largest in Germany. National parks aim to protect natural landscapes on a large scale and allow undisturbed natural development. Worldwide, around 4000 national parks belong to the most popular sights of their countries.

At the beginning of every Brocken hike, a visit to the National Park Visitor Center TorfHaus is recommended. Here you will learn everything you need to know about the Harz National Park. A tour through the exhibition shows you what to expect on your tour to the Brocken and prepares you for the unique landscape in the Harz National Park.