A charming town in Germany's Harz Mountains, with its red sandstone castle and historic half-timbered houses dating from medieval times. Local cafes line the winding streets.
In Wernigerode, half-timbered houses painted in yellow, red, and blue line the medieval streets of this Harz Mountain town. You can climb to a 12th-century castle, watch steam locomotives puff their way up Brocken Mountain, or examine the intricate wooden carvings on the 1498 Gothic town hall. The town's narrow lanes wind past merchant houses where wooden facades display carved figures of traders, animals, and mythical creatures from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Exploring the Medieval Old Town
The historic center contains over 600 timber-framed buildings dating from the 15th to 19th centuries. On the main square (Marktplatz), the orange Gothic town hall stands out with its wooden balconies and carved figures depicting local merchants. Along Breite Strasse, merchant houses display carved wooden beams with dates, names, and decorative patterns. Stop at Kochstrasse to see the town's smallest house - a 10-square-meter building where, according to town records, 11 people once lived.
Visiting Wernigerode Castle
A 30-minute walk uphill or a ride on the castle tram takes you to Wernigerode Castle. You can walk through 40 rooms filled with original furniture, paintings, and artifacts from German noble families. The castle museum tells the story of its transformation from a 12th-century defensive fortress into a 19th-century residence. Walk through the terraced gardens and along the castle walls for views across the red-tiled roofs of Wernigerode. The castle opens daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Taking the Steam Train to Brocken
The narrow-gauge Harzer Schmalspurbahn railway runs from Wernigerode to Brocken's summit (1,141 meters). The 1-hour-40-minute journey includes a train change at Drei Annen Hohne station. Steam locomotives from the early 1900s pull the carriages up steep mountain tracks. At the top, walk through the mountain station museum to learn about the railway's history, visit the alpine botanical garden, or eat at the summit restaurant.
Museums and Cultural Sites
The Aviation Museum displays 45 aircraft ranging from early propeller planes to Cold War jets, plus over 1,000 aerospace exhibits including engines and navigation equipment. At the Harz Museum, examine local minerals, fossils, and mining tools that tell the story of the region's mining past. The Miniaturenpark contains detailed 1:25 scale models of 60 Harz region landmarks, including railways running through miniature landscapes.
Getting Around Wernigerode
Find maps and local information at the tourist office (Nicolaiplatz 1, open Mon-Sat 9 AM-5 PM). You can walk to most old town sites within 15 minutes. The castle tram runs every 30 minutes from the market square. Regular trains connect to Berlin (3 hours) and Hannover (2 hours) from the main station. Local buses serve surrounding villages and hiking trails in the Harz Mountains.
