Brocken mountain in Harz

Broken Mountain is the highest point of the Harz massif and northern Germany (1141 m). It is impossible to get to the top by car. You can come on foot or by historical HSB train. The narrow-gauge railway has been operating since 1898. After the Second World War Germany was divided into two parts and the division line passed just along the Harz mountain range. The mountain was in the Soviet zone of occupation, the top was surrounded by a 3.5 meters high concrete wall. Until 1989 it was completely closed territory and a narrow-gauge railway did not operate.

Now the train starts from Wernigerode and reaches the top in 1 hour and 40 minutes. To save some time we arrived at the last stop before the summit - Schierke (coordinates of paid parking at the station N 51 45.907 E 10 40.632) and took the train there. Find the schedule on bahn.de. You can save only time, but not money, since the ticket price is the same from any stop - 41 EUR.

If you want to climb the mountain on foot, then you can start from Schierke. The next photo shows the train on the right.


Germany has many legends about Mount Broken. It is believed that witches gathered on top in the Middle Ages. This was described by Goethe in his Faust. On the summit you can find stones, which actually were the altar of witches. In Europe, there are two famous places where witches arranged a coven, the second one is the Bald Mountain in Kyiv.


There is a big festival of evil spirits which is being held during the Walpurgis Night (April 30 - May 1) on the top of the mountain. Witches are the main symbol of the Harz massif, almost every souvenir is associated with them.


Previously, the mountain was used mainly as a place for a television antenna. Later, the old antenna (building with a ball for air navigation) was turned into a hotel and a viewing platform. In 1973 a new television antenna was built (red and white).


Getting there: on the train from Wernigerode.