At the Altenau Herb Park, familiar and exotic herbs and spices take centre stage from different perspectives. Sensory trails lead through the world of plants; the Spice Pagoda draws attention to history and global transport. The Spice Gallery complements the theme with a wide-ranging display. The perspectives shift from direct exploration to historical context and the diversity of spices.
Sensory Trails and Plant Knowledge
The Altenau Herb Park invites visitors to explore sensory trails along well-maintained, easy-to-follow paths through familiar and exotic herbs and spices. Explanatory information covers the origins of the plants, their culinary uses and traditional remedies. This brings direct exploration together with background knowledge: you can explore the world of plants along the trails while also learning about the role of herbs and spices in cooking and traditional remedies. These two approaches offer complementary perspectives on the same plants.
The History of Spices in the Pagoda
The ten-metre-high Spice Pagoda adds a historical dimension: on a tour inside, you can explore the history and global transport of spices. The focus thus shifts from the plants themselves to their history and the routes by which they were transported around the world.
The Spice Gallery
The Spice Gallery showcases more than 1,500 herbs and spices. It also features spice and tea blends, honey and oils, as well as spice-roasting demonstrations. While the Pagoda explores history and transport, the Gallery brings the diversity of plants and spices to life through concrete examples. The roasting demonstrations complement this display with a demonstration of how spices are processed.
Clausthal-Zellerfeld: Mining and Robert Koch
In the wider destination of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, the Upper Harz Mining Museum focuses on the town’s mining history. Among other things, you can experience this history up close by exploring a reconstructed mine shaft. The museum therefore has a different focus from the Herb Park, with its plants and spices.
Another way to explore history is the Robert Koch walking tour through Clausthal. It visits places that were significant during Robert Koch’s youth and passes, among other sites, his birthplace, the church where he was baptised, and his former school. The route therefore focuses on his life story. Together with the Mining Museum, it offers two distinct perspectives on the history of Clausthal-Zellerfeld.
Group Brewing
Another attraction in Clausthal-Zellerfeld is the BRAUakademie. Groups of four or more can brew their own beer under the guidance of master brewers. The emphasis here is on hands-on participation: instead of learning about history in a museum or on a walking tour, you brew your own beer with your group. If you are considering this activity while planning your trip, the minimum group size of four is a useful detail to bear in mind.
Discover more destinations: Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Sankt Andreasberg, Langelsheim, Bad Harzburg, Oberharz, Braunlage, Lutter Am Barenberge, Seesen.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Goslar.
