Why travel far when so much is waiting for you in the Kyffhäuser region of the southern Harz? Here you can experience nature, history, and culture all in one place and plan your next trip straight away.
Between the Kyffhäuser and Südharz nature parks, you’ll find hiking and cycling trails leading through forests, mountains, and river valleys. Five certified quality hiking trails cross the region. Whether you’re looking for steep descents on your mountain bike or prefer to ride leisurely along rivers – both are possible.
In many places, you’ll come across traces of the past. At the Kyffhäuser Monument, you’ll stand right in front of the statue of Emperor Barbarossa. In the Barbarossa Cave in the Kyffhäuser Mountains, the path leads you into the legendary underground castle. In the world’s oldest grain town, you can taste the original schnapps. If you visit the oldest village in Thuringia, you’ll find out how the first Harz cheese might have been made and at Hohnstein Castle, you can throw a stone into the deepest castle well.
Art and culture can also be found everywhere. The Panorama Museum displays an impressive circular painting with more than 3,000 figures. While a golden ceremonial carriage from the 18th century stands in Sondershausen Palace, the Nordhausen Theatre is home to the more than 400-year-old Loh Orchestra. In Bad Frankenhausen, a church tower visibly leans towards the sky – even more than the Tower of Pisa.
Families can discover many interactive attractions in the Kyffhäuser region of the southern Harz. Things get magical at the HEX World of Experience, home to the world’s largest witch’s broom and an interactive exhibition. At Straußberg, monkeys climb freely, at Possen, you can climb up yourself, and with a helmet, you can head underground into the adventure mine in Sondershausen. Meanwhile, historic steam locomotives of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways travel through the southern Harz countryside, offering plenty of sights along the way.
