Kelbra combines a hike of about five kilometres to the reservoir with other destinations along trails of varying lengths. When choosing where to stay, you can compare the trails and regional bus connections. The wider destination of Mansfeld-Südharz also offers its own cultural and landscape attractions.
Hiking trails from Kelbra
The short local trail from Kelbra to the reservoir is about 5 km long. It leads through Kirchtal and Volpertäler, past Thaleber Berg and then downhill to the reservoir. Along the way, there are panoramic views across the reservoir.
For longer hikes, trails from Kelbra head towards the Kyffhäuser (about 19 km), Barbarossa Cave (about 10 km), Königspfalz Tilleda (about 7 km) and the Numburg karst area (about 4 km). At about 4 km, the route towards the Numburg karst area is the shortest of those listed, while the route towards the Kyffhäuser is the longest at about 19 km; Barbarossa Cave and Königspfalz Tilleda lie between them.
The nearby Kyffhäuser-Nordrand hiking trail leads from Kelbra via Kulpenberg and the ruins of Rothenburg Castle to Kyffhausen Castle. Possible return routes head towards Tilleda or Sittendorf; Brockenblick is suggested as a viewpoint. Check trail conditions locally before planning your hike.
Planning bus connections and accommodation
Kelbra is served by regional bus connections, including VGS routes linking the town with Sangerhausen, Stolberg, Roßla, Berga, Bad Frankenhausen and Sondershausen. The town also provides information on booking the on-demand bus. As routes and timetables may change, check the latest information before travelling.
When looking for accommodation in Kelbra, you can use your planned hiking destinations and the bus connections relevant to your trip as criteria for choosing where to stay. This lets you plan your overnight stays around the activities you actually intend to include.
In the wider destination of Mansfeld-Südharz
The Luther sites in Eisleben include the houses where Martin Luther was born and died. In Mansfeld, the Luther Fountain commemorates Luther: Paul Juckhoff created the Art Nouveau monument in 1913. Its pedestal at Lutherplatz also serves as a fountain and features bronze reliefs depicting Luther’s parents and Martin Luther as a 13-year-old boy.
The Church of St. Mary in Klostermansfeld is a three-aisled Romanesque basilica belonging to a Benedictine monastery. It was probably built around 1140; 1170 is considered its official founding year. It is also part of the Romanesque Road cultural route.
The area around Questenberg is part of the South Harz Karst Biosphere Reserve and was designated a nature reserve in 1927. A hike near Questenberg starts at the festival grounds in the centre of the village. Every year at Whitsun, the Questen Festival is celebrated there in accordance with an old tradition. It is considered a continuation of a Germanic solstice cult believed to date back thousands of years. Check the current programme for the date, which varies from year to year.
Discover more destinations: Seegebiet Mansfelder Land, Ahlsdorf, Mansfeld, Sangerhausen, Südharz, Stangerode, Gerbstedt, Allstedt.
Back to the wider travel overview: Mansfeld-Südharz.
