The great Harz foothills route

Our route begins at the intersection "Schlachthofstraße/Im Stadtfelde", where the Holtemme cycle path begins. From here, we initially ride always left parallel to the Holtemme stream, crossing the B244 federal highway and then crossing the Holtemme on a narrow bridge. The cycle path now continues parallel to the right of the Holtemme, passing under the B6, past Minsleben, into the village of Silstedt. At the first intersection in the village, we turn left then go straight past the Harz dairy to the next street intersection. Here, we turn left out of the village again and immediately before the next street intersection turn right onto a narrow path that runs parallel to the Holtemme again. Further on, we cross two small roads, pass the Silstedt sports field and continue towards Derenburg. Before reaching Derenburg, we pass the Harzkristall glassworks, where a visit can be arranged. At the next crossroads, we turn left towards the riding stables, then at the stable entrance turn right again. This path takes us directly to Derenburg. At the first street intersection, we turn left along "Utzlebener Straße", which ends at "Minslebener Straße". We then turn right on "Minslebener Straße" to "Bleichstraße", which we cross at the pedestrian crossing. Then we cross the bridge and continue on "Holtemmestraße", later "Kanalstraße", parallel to the Holtemme towards Mahndorf, passing the Derenburg animal shelter. In the open countryside far beyond Derenburg, we reach a fork in the path where we turn left on a narrow path continuing parallel to the Holtemme. This path crosses the Holtemme on a wooden bridge and runs at the foot of the Steinkuhlenberg, then straight ahead until in Mahndorf it meets the road to Halberstadt and thus the Harz Foothills Cycle Route (HVR). There is a small playground on the right. We follow the little-used road towards Halberstadt until shortly after the Halberstadt town sign, following the HVR signs, we turn left into "Am Wasserwerk". This path runs alongside a coppice and a residential area to the B79 (Sternstraße), which we follow to the right, initially on a parallel path, later on a roadside foot and cycle path, and then somewhat elevated through a roadside green area. To pass the next intersection, we follow the small 15x10 cm signs marked "HVR". We now ride along "Straße der Opfer des Faschismus", turn right into "Spiegelstraße" and go straight on along "Spiegelsbergenweg", past the "Sea Land" amusement pool to the Spiegelsberge animal park and riding stables. Following the signage, we turn left at the riding stables into "Kirschallee". At the end of "Kirschallee", we turn right again into the forest path, which takes us to a crossing by a large meadow. Here we turn left towards Langenstein/Landhaus/Gläserner Mönch. At the next forest path junction, we turn right again. After leaving the forest, we soon cross a disused railway track. Shortly thereafter, a path branches left towards "Landhaus". For those wishing to take a detour to the "Gläserner Mönch", a walkable sandstone rock with a wonderful view over the Harz foothills, turn left here. At the former Landhaus, now a completely dilapidated building ensemble, a steep staircase on the left leads up to the rock.

The route continues straight on to Langenstein, where the path soon turns into a bumpy paved road. We pass through the entire village of Langenstein and arrive at a bend at the village edge (by the pond) at the cave dwellings of the Altenburg castle ruins, which can also be visited. From here, we continue on a (initially somewhat bumpy) path past the pond and along the Goldbach stream towards Börnecke/Blankenburg. At a junction by Goldbach, we turn left and now ride straight towards Börnecke. At the junction after the railway crossing, we leave the HVR (Harz Foothills Cycle Route) and turn right towards Blankenburg. After crossing the railway tracks at Börnecke station, we turn left onto Alten Halberstädter Weg, passing the "Blick Regenstein" beer garden, and shortly before Blankenburg cross the railway tracks again.

"Alte Halberstädter Straße" flows into "Mühlenstraße", which we follow right and then immediately right again into "Bahnhofstraße". Opposite the station building, we turn into "Albrechtstraße" and then pass through "Thiepark". At the end of the park, we turn right and then immediately left, past a school, and cross the B81 (Neue Halberstädter Straße) at the traffic light. We then turn left again and right into "Klosterstraße".

If you wish to visit the Small Castle Blankenburg with its Baroque gardens and historic town center, continue straight here. Via Klosterstraße - Wilhelmstraße - Rohdenbergstraße, we reach "Eichenbergweg", which we follow to the right. Here, we are also back on the European long-distance cycle route R1.

At the first fork, we follow the path going slightly uphill on the left, past the old people's home, then turn left again through the bungalow estate "Am Eichenberg". Shortly after, we pass under the railway tracks and at the following junctions continue straight until we meet "Waldfriedensstraße". Here, we turn left past a pond, and at the junction behind the pond, we take the right path. At the next fork, we turn right into the forest again. We pass a shelter and at the following junction, turn right down a narrow path until we meet a crossing with a sign for the inn "Zum Klosterfischer". Here, we turn left, parallel to a watercourse with a chain of ponds, cross the stream on a small wooden bridge, and reach the road leading left to Michaelstein Monastery, which is highly recommended to visit. We then pass through the large monastery gate and at the next junction turn right, reaching the road towards Heimburg after about 500 m. We follow this road downhill for about 500 m and at the first bend in the forest turn left onto the forest path, which leads straight ahead, crossing another road, to the foot of the "Ziegenberg/Struvenberg" nature reserve. At the Struvenberg junction, we turn left slightly uphill to the forest edge. At the forest edge junction, we turn right onto the paved path. At the end of the paved path, we turn left onto a concrete track path, which offers a beautiful view and leads us to Benzingerode. We pass through the town, always going straight. At the edge of town, at the end of "Friedenstraße", we turn left uphill to the forest edge. Here, we turn right and continue straight ahead back to Wernigerode.

Parking lot "Am Katzenteich" in Schlachthofstraße

- Parking and motorhome parking, bus parking

- fee required

- The city center/Wernigerode Citizens' Park are each reachable within a 10-minute walk