The former free mining town of Altenau with its district Torfhaus is located at an altitude between 420 and 928 m above sea level in the Upper Harz.
Since the opening of Europe’s largest Herb Park with its Spice Gallery in Altenau, herbs and spices have been firmly established here. You can see them everywhere in the town, such as in the planted Würzeln©. In the Herb Park, you can discover numerous native and exotic herb plants and spice blends. The Crystal Sauna Spa “Heißer Brocken” complements the offerings of the climatic health resort Altenau. In the heated indoor and outdoor pools, you can relax in brine concentrations between 1.5 and 12 percent. You will also find the theme of “herbs and spices” in the sauna area. Special infusions with herbs from the Herb Park create unique aromas.
If you enjoy hiking, the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg trail or the Goethe Path takes you through nature up to the Brocken summit. For mountain bikers, the extensive trail network of the Volksbank Arena Harz is accessible. In the “DSV Nordic Aktiv Walking Centre”, you will find three routes with different levels of difficulty.
In winter, the Torfhaus district, located over 800 metres high, offers various possibilities. Groomed cross-country trails and winter hiking paths lead through the snowy landscape. On the ski lift facility with its prepared slope and the unique to the Harz toboggan lift, you can go skiing, snowboarding or sledging. You can find more information on winter sports and weather on the winter sports page for Altenau and Torfhaus.
Schulenberg was created in 1954, after the villages of Unter- and Mittelschulenberg were flooded during the construction of the Oker Dam. Today’s village lies on a plateau of the Wiesenberg above the dam. An old legend tells that the church spire of the sunken village can sometimes be seen in the water and the ringing of the bells can be heard.
The Oker Dam covers almost two square kilometres of water surface, is up to 65 metres deep and is surrounded by forest. You can go sailing, swimming, surfing or canoeing there. The Oker Lake ship MS AquaMarin offers round trips across the Oker Reservoir all year round.
Another attraction is the Racepark Schulenberg on the 645-metre-high Wiesenberg. Here, you can find different downhill runs and a lift that takes you and your bike up. The village is also a good starting point for exploring the large trail network of the Volksbank Arena Harz.
