NATURA Tip 1 – Beech Forests around Stolberg, Around the Zwißelsberg

3.49 km long
Round trip
Difficulty: easy
Condition: very easy
Walking / hiking
  • 1:05 h
  • 3.49 km
  • 104 m
  • 104 m
  • 326 m
  • 430 m
  • 104 m
  • Start: Stolberg Castle
  • Destination: Stolberg Castle

From the castle, the circular route leads along princely promenades and past mining relics through the Natura 2000 area "Beech Forests around Stolberg".

The circular tour combines nature and cultural experiences: The extensive forests around the castle have been recognized at the European level as the Natura 2000 area "Beech Forests around Stolberg" due to their importance for indigenous plant and animal life. Since the High Middle Ages, a castle has presided over today's castle hill. Historic hollow ways, princely promenades, and historic ponds for the castle's water supply lie along the path. In the extensive European beech forests, with some luck and patience, alpine newt, black stork, gray woodpecker, and red deer can be observed. The autumn color play and the deer rutting are very special experiences.

Harz: Magische Gebirgswelt
Harz: Magische Gebirgswelt

Good to know

Pavements

Asphalt (10%)
Gravel (8%)
Trail (82%)

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

Just below the castle, directly on Schlossstraße, a series of Harzklub hiking trail signs point the way. The hike initially follows the yellow dot trail marker "Around the Zwißelsberg" in the direction of Röhrenteich. Past the former horse stable, the Upper Deer Avenue leads to the deer monument. The heraldic animal of Stolberg is also often seen in the extensive local European beech forests. Continuing along the Deer Avenue, at Röhrenteich, the path branches off and leads steeply uphill. Upon reaching the drivable forest road, the circular route turns right until finally the ridge path leads back to the castle in a left curve. Over a historic hollow path, the former Breitenstein city path, the circular tour leads back to the starting point of the hike.  

Directions & Parking facilities

From the B242 or B4 towards Stolberg, from the A38 exit Berga continue towards Stolberg.

At the end of Rittergasse is the free Ludetal parking lot.

Nearest bus stop: "Am Markt" in Stolberg. Stolberg can be reached by bus from Quedlinburg, Harzgerode, Berga, and Sangerhausen.  

Additional information

Stolberg Castle
Schlossberg 1
06536 Südharz OT Stadt Stolberg (Harz)
https://gemeinde-suedharz.de/schloss-stolberg/

Tourist Information Stolberg

Niedergasse 17
06536 Südharz
Tel: 034654 454
ti@rossla.de
https://gemeinde-suedharz.de/

Literature

The NATURA Tip 1 "Beech Forests around Stolberg" describes the hiking tour as well as the animal and plant species occurring here and their habitats through short texts and impressive photos. It is available, for example, at Stolberg Castle, in the Tourist Info in Stolberg, and at www.harzregion.de.

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

The exhibition "You must look for beech trees …!" at Stolberg Castle invites you to a visit. Here, in the Natura 2000 information center of the Harz, the seemingly well-known European beech takes center stage. What do letters, Little Red Riding Hood, and the elephant have to do with the beech? Which animals, plants, and fungi live in the beech forest? You can learn more in the joint exhibition of the Harz regional association and the South Harz Karst Landscape Biosphere Reserve.

Map

The NATURA Tip 1 contains a detailed hiking map.

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