"Harz Monastery Hiking Trails" No. 2: Around the collegiate church Bad Gandersheim

This themed circular route starts at the collegiate church and leads to the early sites of the charming town, which owes its origin to the important ladies' monastery of the Liudolfings, founded in 852. The collegiate church was the center of life for the spiritual women’s community from 881 to 1810 and is a unique Romanesque testimony to the high significance of the medieval imperial monastery. In the 10th century, the first German poet and canoness Roswitha of Gandersheim (Roswitha Jubilee Year 2026 with numerous events) lived and worked here. The route passes through the marketplace with the historic town hall past beautiful half-timbered houses to a historically highly interesting ensemble: the so-called St. George's Citizens' Church, whose origins date back to the 10th century, the weir on the Gande, and the building ensemble around the historic Georgsmühle. Then it gently ascends towards Clusberg and the former Benedictine monastery Clus, from where you have a magnificent view over the Harz foreland. The church is open daily and is located on the premises of the pony stud. From there, you hike again with beautiful views and wide perspectives towards the Brunshausen monastery hill, the germ cell of Gandersheim and the founding place of the Gandersheim women's monastery in 852. The historic ensemble has a special aura and it is worth taking ample time for it. You can experience the former monastery church, the baroque summer palace, and the Portal to History museum with many valuable exhibits. Afterwards, you should stop at one of the idyllic cafés on the monastery hill and enjoy the atmosphere. Along the picturesque Gande, the route leads through the spa park back to the collegiate church.

The main route of the Harz Monastery Hiking Trail runs along the northern Harz edge for 116 km and 7 stages between Goslar and Halberstadt. www.harzer-klosterwanderweg.de