Photo: museums and exhibitions, other places, Mount Brocken and Brockenbahn, Saxony-Anhalt

6 photos

Mount Brocken and Brockenbahn: Old Steam Locomotive to Witch Mountain

Museums and Exhibitions • Other places

Directions

Mount Brocken is one of the most mysterious and scenic attractions inand around Wernigerode. This is the highest point on the Harz mountain range.Its height is 1141 m. In these parts there is a legend that Brocken is wherewitches gather for Sabbath on the night of April 30 to May 1 and organize thefamous Walpurgis Night. The great poet, Goethe, who himself repeatedly rose toMount Brocken, wrote about this in his tragedy Faust.

Today, you can reach to the top of Mount Brocken bothon foot and by the narrow-gauge railway on the old small train Brockenbahn,which has been climbing up to the mountain since 1899. A leisurely train climbsup the very scenic mountain slopes, through majestic forests. A hotel, a restaurantand a museum are located on the top. In the museum you can learn about the natureand history of Harz, as well as master the flight simulator on a broomstick andexplore a couple of recipes of witches’ drugs.

In good weather you can see wonderful views of thesurrounding forests and towns far below from the top. Although this rarelyhappens on Brocken, as in these areas it is foggy and damp almost all yearround. That in turn allows travelers to see the Brocken Spectre-an optical illusionthat occurs exclusively in the fog. Under such weather conditions, the observercan see his own shadow and the rainbow mist around, called Glory.

Mount Brocken and Brockenbahn: Old Steam Locomotive to Witch Mountain

Restaurants