Clausthal-Zellerfeld is the only university town in the Harz region. It lies on a high plateau between Goslar and Altenau at an altitude of 535 to 600 metres. The town combines the traditions of a mining community with the opportunities of a university town, creating a link between history and the present.
The low mountain range landscape with its mountain meadows, forests and clear waters shapes the scenery. More than 60 ponds, ditches and water channels that form part of the Upper Harz Water Management System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, make Clausthal-Zellerfeld a popular destination for nature and sports lovers. A well-signposted network of hiking trails, access to the mountain bike routes of the Volksbank Arena Harz, Nordic walking routes as well as opportunities for fishing and swimming offer both exercise and relaxation.
In the historic centre you’ll find St Salvatoris Church and the spacious market square. Old townhouses and miners’ cottages lining the green streets recall the importance of the mining town. The Upper Harz Mining Museum, the Kaiser Wilhelm II Shaft, the facilities of the Ottiliae Shaft with its surface railway, and the geoscience collection of Clausthal University of Technology all provide insights into the history of mining in the Harz mountains. Other places worth visiting include the artisans’ courtyard “Alte Münze” in the former mint and the Market Church of the Holy Spirit – one of the largest wooden churches in the world.
The Buntenbock district is quiet, surrounded by meadows, forests and ponds. From here, you can hike along the Harz Witches’ Trail or the Harz Foresters’ Trail or use the mountain bike network of the Volksbank Arena Harz. The Upper Harz Water System with its fishing and swimming areas invites you to linger. Shorter routes include, for example, the Buntenbock Mountain Meadows Trail.
In winter, you can look forward to groomed cross-country ski trails and a sledging slope in Zellerfeld. You can find more information on the winter sports page for Clausthal-Zellerfeld and Buntenbock.
