Schierke town hall (Rathaus)

Schierke is a small spa town, at 600 metres altitude, in the Harz Mountains. It is a popular tourist destination, not least as a base for walks up the Brocken, the highest mountain in the region.

Understand

Feuersteinklippe

Schierke is in the heart of the Harz, surrounded by the forests of the National Park. It has a long tradition as a spa and consequently has dozens of hotels and restaurants.

The Cold Bode (Kalte Bode) river flows through Schierke into the Bode Valley. Schierke is home to a well-known local drink, Schierker Feuerstein, named after the Feuerstein (flint) rocks above the town.

Get in

Schierke is on the Brocken Railway, a narrow gauge line that starts in Wernigerode. It is also accessible by road from the B4, the main north-south federal road through the Harz.

Get around

Schierke is small enough to walk around.

See

• Felsklippen (Crags). Around the area are a number of not worthy rock formations. For example the 1 Feuersteinklippe and the 2 Schnarcherklippen. 
• 3 The Brocken. The highest mountain in the Harz range and the highest mountain in Northern Germany. The quickest way to get to its 1,141m summit is by the Harz Narrow Gauge Train (Brockenbahn). It has a long history. It was built at the end of the 19th century in order to connect the Harz's mineral resources, forestry, and small industries to the rest of an economically rising Germany, as well as to promote the beginnings of tourism. Since 1899 it has been possible for passengers to travel up to the summit. Altogether the narrow gauge railway net is over 130km long.  
  • The main route to the Brocken starts at Wernigerode with several minor stops on the way. The two main connection stops are Drei Annen Hohne and Schierke. The trip up and down will take about 1¾ hours. The night train journey is most beautiful in the winter months especially when snow is on the ground.
  • There are several trails to the summit of the Brocken, approaching from different sides. The most common routes are:
  • Schierke - Brocken - Schierke, approximately 15km with a 600m height difference, the return route takes approximately 5 hours not including stopovers.
  • Torfhaus - Brocken - Torfhaus (Goethe Trail), approximately 17km with a 550m height difference, route takes approximately 6 hours not including stopovers.

Do

Brockenbahn heritage railway in a winter scenery

• Hiking. Climb the Brocken, at over 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) high it is the highest summit in the Harz Mountains. 
• Steam train. Catch the steam train up the Brocken. 

Buy

• Willys Apotheke, Brockenstraße 3. Schierker Feuerstein herbal liqueur, of 35% alcohol by volume (updated Feb 2016)

Eat

• Das Kleine Cafe. claims to be the smallest restaurant in the Harz - serves a range of delicious home-made cakes and wide range of coffees and teas, painstakingly prepared. Pick your time because it really is small! 

Sleep

• Brockenapartments, Alte Wernigeröder Straße 14a, ☏ +49 39455 582893, info@brockenapartments.de. from €65. (updated Oct 2016)
• Brockenhotel, Brockenplateau, ☏ +49 39455 120, info@brockenhotel.de. Single from €80 double from €130 - all prices including breakfast. (updated Oct 2016)
• Hotel Bodeblick, Barenburg 1, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 589200. 
• Hotel Brockenscheideck, Brockenstraße 49, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 268. 
• Hotel Brockenstübchen, Brockenstraße 39, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 252. 
• Hotel Villa Fichtenhof, Hagenstraße 3, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 8888. 
• Pension Schmidt, Brockenstraße 13, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 333. 
• Pension Andrä, Brockenstraße 12, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 51257. 
• Pension Barbara, Brockenstraße 1, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 8690. 
• Harz Hotel Ferienanlage Zum Wildbach, Ferienanlage Zum Wildbach GmbH, Barenberg 15 f, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 589970. 
• Ferienwohnungen am Brocken, Alte Wernigeröder Str. 9, 38879, ☏ +49 39455 569811. 

Group accommodation

• DJH Jugendherberge Schierke. 
• DAV Basislager Brocken. 

Go next

• Wernigerode
• Torfhaus
• Braunlage