--- title: "Through Friedenstal to Alexisbad" url: "https://www.harzinfo.de/en/tour/through-friedenstal-to-alexisbad-1" description: "This route takes you from the Luftkurort Friedrichsbrunn past the Merkelbach holiday park to the ruins of Erichsburg. It served to protect the old Emperor's and King's road, which came up through today's Friedenstal from the Selke valley. The hiking destination Alexisbad was developed into a spa and recreational area in 1820 at the instigation of Duke Alexius of Ballenstedt." language: "en" type: "SportsActivityLocation" image: "https://dam.destination.one/3569064/998176f71f72b8d2f81d48aed73deb93335b24cea3b1f48ef294e89f3344321e/.jpg" breadcrumb: "Root > Harzinfo > Experiences > Tour" --- GPX Share Through Friedenstal to Alexisbad ================================ - 9.73 km long - Difficulty: easy - Walking / hiking - 2:30 h - 9.73 km - 60 m - 261 m - 310 m - 522 m - 212 m - - Start: Bodetal-Information Friedrichsbrunn, Hauptstraße 33 a, 06502 Thale OT Friedrichsbrunn - Destination: Alexisbad Friedrichsbrunn – Erichsburg – Alexisbad This route takes you from the Luftkurort Friedrichsbrunn past the Merkelbach holiday park to the ruins of Erichsburg. It served to protect the old Emperor's and King's road, which came up through today's Friedenstal from the Selke valley. The hiking destination Alexisbad was developed into a spa and recreational area in 1820 at the instigation of Duke Alexius of Ballenstedt. Read more Good to know ------------ Best to visit suitable Depends on weather - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Directions Thale's highest district Friedrichsbrunn, a foundation of the Prussian king Frederick II, is the starting point of this hike to Alexisbad. From the central signpost in the town center, hike right past the church and cemetery in a southerly direction to the gondola pond. You bypass it on its right bank and reach the "Alte Gernröder Straße," which you follow to the left. At the roadside of this old boundary path between the former lands of Anhalt and Brunswick, the old border stones still stand. After about one kilometer, you find at a well-preserved boundary stone a resting bench of the Harz Club as well as a stamp box for the Friedrichsbrunn circular hiking trail. Continue straight on the border path, then turn right at the Merkelbach holiday park with its elk enclosure and follow the path to the left at the second fork towards Alexisbad into Friedenstal. Past old beeches, you arrive at the Erichsburg pond, which, together with the more northerly Bergrat Müller pond, was used for the water supply of the former mining facilities. After about 100 meters you find the remains of a former mining operation (Dennarttanne), whose main period of operation falls into the 18th century. The mine was last reopened in 1938. A few hundred meters further along the path heading south on the right is the ruin of Erichsburg with its clearly recognizable moat and rampart systems. Now follow the gently winding Friedensbach through the wetlands until 500 meters before Alexisbad you reach a branch to the Marienquelle, whose visit is worth a detour. Back on the main path, you will reach the destination of this hike – Alexisbad – after a few minutes. Read more Directions & Parking facilities **Getting there** A36 exit Thale, continue via L240 through Warnstedt to Thale, then continue on L240 to Friedrichsbrunn Read more **Parking** Large parking lots at the village entrances Read more **Public transportation** Bus stop town center directly at the starting point (lines 18, 31) Read more Additional information Bodetal-Information THALE Bahnhofstraße 1 06502 Thale Tel. 03947 776800 info@bodetal.de www.bodetal.de Read more Nearby ------ View on map - Place of interest - Museum - Tours 6.92 km - Walking / hiking 7.89 km - Walking / hiking 9.38 km - Walking / hiking Contact Hauptstraße 06502 Thale Download GPX file - - - -