In the heart of Benneckenstein, Wilhelm-Schmidt-Park is home to a pond with a gondola. It offers visitors and residents a place to rest and relax. Wild plant experiences, hiking trails and a summer cultural programme also shape the town’s many facets. Which of these interests you most depends on your travel plans.
Relaxation, plant knowledge and circular trails
The park combines its central location with a dedicated place to pause. The Wildpflanzenschule offers meditation courses, medicinal herb walks, wild plant tours and foraging, as well as wild plant courses. The programme thus ranges from courses and guided tours to meditative and activity-based options. If you would like to attend a particular course or tour, check the date in advance.
The mountain meadow nature trail around Benneckenstein is a themed circular hiking route that is suitable for families and pushchairs. Another circular route is the “Schmalspurbahnenblick” winter hiking trail: it begins and ends at the “Alte Eiche” hiking car park on the outskirts of Benneckenstein, in the direction of Tanne. Along the way, you can enjoy views of Benneckenstein and the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways. As trail conditions can vary, check them before setting out.
Winter activities and summer programme
Winter activities in Benneckenstein include horse-drawn and dog-sled rides, guided hikes and torchlight walks. There is also a ski area with a toboggan run and groomed cross-country trails. The different activities cater to a range of interests, from guided outings to trails and options for winter sports. For specific plans, it is advisable to check dates and operating conditions in advance.
Every summer, THEATERNATUR puts on a cultural programme in Benneckenstein as part of its performing arts festival. This offers a summer counterpart to the winter activities. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates in advance.
In the wider Oberharz am Brocken destination
The wider Oberharz am Brocken destination also offers a variety of hiking options. A 2.8 km moderately difficult hike leads through mixed woodland to the Krockstein viewpoint; the stated walking time is 55 minutes. The 5.5 km circular route around the Hasselvorsperre near Hasselfelde is also moderately difficult. Its stated duration is 1 hour 28 minutes. The distances and times make it easy to compare the two routes. Check current trail conditions before hiking to Krockstein.
From early April to the end of October, traditional charcoal-burning mounds are built, fired and harvested at Harzköhlerei Stemberghaus. You can experience the traditional craft of charcoal burning in action there. The charcoal-burning museum offers an insight into the difficult working and living conditions of charcoal burners. In Hasselfelde, the Blumenau Museum in the Haus des Gastes presents the life and work of chemist and emigrant Hermann Blumenau in pictures and text. The local history room in the Haus des Gastes tells the story of the town and the lives and work of its residents. St. Antonius Church in Hasselfelde is a three-aisled Gothic basilica.
In Stiege, the stave church is Germany’s only sacred building in the Norwegian dragon style. The turning loop there is part of the Selketalbahn and is described as Europe’s smallest turning loop. Stieger See lies in the heart of the town, surrounded by green meadows and woodland. In Neuwerk, the traditional Grasedanz festival is all about the hay harvest.
From Hasselfelde, you can travel daily on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways to the Brocken or into the Selke Valley. Check the current timetable before your journey.
Discover more destinations: Neuwerk, Königshütte, Sorge, Hasselfelde, Elbingerode, Rübeland, Stiege, Elend
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Oberharz Am Brocken.
