The municipality of Südharz offers a karst landscape with steep slopes, dense beech forests and karst caves. In Stolberg, Joseph’s Cross and the ALTE MÜNZE Museum cater to two different interests: climbing to a viewpoint and exploring the history of money. You can therefore shape your stay around the landscape, the views or cultural history.

Karst Landscape, Views and Coinage History

The landscape brings together striking slopes, beech forest and karst caves. These features give the natural area a variety of character: you can take in the karst landscape as a whole or plan your trip around a specific destination. When choosing your accommodation, it helps to first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Joseph’s Cross near Josephshöhe in Stolberg is a destination for families and hikers. The climb to the viewing platform involves more than 200 steps. In suitable weather, it offers sweeping panoramic views. The number of steps is a practical part of the outing to bear in mind when planning. If you intend to visit, check the latest opening hours and admission information.

The ALTE MÜNZE Museum is housed in a half-timbered building dating from 1535. Its focus is the history of money, including an 18th-century coin workshop and minting demonstrations. The building, the history of coinage and minting techniques offer a different focus from the climb to Joseph’s Cross. If you are especially interested in the demonstrations, check the current programme before your visit.

Stolberg therefore offers two clearly distinct options: an outing involving a climb up steps and panoramic views, or a museum visit focused on the history of money and minting. The karst landscape adds a natural dimension to these options. Plan your overnight stay around the themes that matter most for your trip.

More to Explore in the Wider Mansfeld-Südharz Travel Region

The wider Mansfeld-Südharz travel region also offers distinctive cultural and natural attractions. The Luther sites in Eisleben include the houses where Martin Luther was born and died. In Mansfeld, the Art Nouveau Luther Fountain was created by Paul Juckhoff in 1913. Its base on Lutherplatz also serves as a fountain; bronze reliefs depict Luther’s parents and Martin Luther as a 13-year-old boy.

Every year, on the weekend after Easter, a historical reenactment of Martin Luther’s first day at school takes place at the Luther Fountain in Mansfeld. The programme includes stage performances, market activities and musical entertainment. As the weekend after Easter falls on different dates each year, check the date for the year you plan to travel.

In Klostermansfeld, St. Mary’s Church was probably built around 1140 as a three-aisled Romanesque basilica belonging to a Benedictine monastery; 1170 is considered its official founding year. The church is part of the Romanesque Road cultural route. Those interested in historic architecture will find a different period and theme here than at the ALTE MÜNZE Museum in Stolberg.

Historic narrow-gauge trains run several times a year for special occasions on the route between Klostermansfeld and Hettstedt in the wider Mansfeld-Südharz travel region. Check the specific operating dates before planning your trip. In Mansfeld-Südharz, the long-distance Luther Trails hiking network runs for more than 81 kilometres past important Reformation sites.

The area around Questenberg also brings together landscape, hiking and tradition: it is part of the Karst Landscape South Harz Biosphere Reserve and was designated a nature reserve as early as 1927. A hike near Questenberg begins at the festival grounds in the centre of the village. Every year at Pentecost, the traditional Questenfest is also celebrated there, continuing what is believed to be a millennia-old Germanic solstice cult.

In the Mansfeld-Südharz tourism region, tourist information offices at eight locations offer, among other things, town tours and guided excursions, tickets for events and museums, and accommodation booking services. If you plan to use any of these services, check what is available at the relevant location.

Discover more destinations: Breitenstein, Stolberg, Wickerode, Breitungen, Uftrungen, Schwenda, Hainrode, Dietersdorf

See the wider travel overview: Mansfeld-Südharz.