Travel guide Altenau
Vacation Where the Pepper Grows
The quaint town of Altenau is located in the Upper Harz, about 15 kilometers from Goslar. In this climatic health resort, numerous traditional Harz buildings still stand. The town area spreads across five valleys, where the mountain streams Kleine Oker, Große Oker, Gerlachsbach, and Altenau converge to form the Oker. Altenau is an attractive destination all year round, so it's no surprise that there are many private houses and cozy apartments available for vacationers. A notable attraction is the
world's largest herb park in Altenau, which spans over 30,000 m². The herb park is an oasis for nature lovers, botanists, gourmets, and of course, herb enthusiasts. Tasting, touching, and smelling are explicitly allowed here. The
local heritage museum focuses on depicting and illustrating the history of Altenau. In this lovingly furnished museum, you will encounter numerous tools related to mining, which shaped life in the region. This way, you learn all about the popular holiday destination and gain insight into the lifestyle of the former population. Current opening hours can be found on the website.
A visit to the largest German forest national park, the
Harz National Park, is a must. Covering an area of about 25,000 hectares, the park accounts for approximately ten percent of the total area of the Harz. Over 7,200 plant and animal species call the nature park home. Nestled in the breathtaking mountain landscape, the 1,141-meter-high
Brocken stands tall. The legendary mountain is characterized by rocks, mountain ranges, dense deciduous and coniferous forests, mountain streams, and moors. Start a biking, discovery, or hiking tour through the national park and experience the wilderness in all its facets. If the weather in the Upper Harz is not cooperating, you can relax and unwind in the
Kristall Saunatherme "Heißer Brocken". The spa offers a brine indoor and year-round outdoor pool, steam tunnels, sulfur healing water pool with a large waterfall, indoor and outdoor saunas, and much more. Hourly rates can be found
here. The opening hours are (as of November 2023):
• Mo-Thu, Sun: 9 AM – 9 PM
• Fri & Sat: 9 AM – 10 PM
Also worth seeing is the Schnitzstube and Drechslerei Meier. In this artisanal master workshop with over 200 years of Ore Mountain tradition, you'll find a unique exhibition under the theme "Wonders in Wood." The historic silver mine and realistically designed landscapes with mechanically moving figures and carvings will captivate you.
Culture and Traditions in Altenau
In
Lower Saxony, numerous historical places and many churches await you. In the museums, you can delve into the history of the Harz. Whether it's a natural spectacle, a house of worship, brewing art, or mining, a comfortably furnished vacation apartment or a centrally located affordable holiday home is the perfect place to explore the exciting history of the Harz. The
National Park Visitor Center TorfHaus offers a fantastic view into the Radau Valley and to the Brocken. At this location, which is emblematic of the former division of Germany, you get exciting insights into the national park. The visitor center is a popular starting point for hiking and adventure tours, such as the famous Goethe Trail to the Brocken, the Moorstieg over the Great Torfhaus Moor, or the
"On the Move with Boris Bark Beetle" adventure tour.
During a vacation in a cozy apartment or a holiday home, you should not miss a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Upper Harz Water Management. The water management system, established over 800 years ago by Cistercian monks, utilized water power for mining and is a testament to the impressive mining history in the Harz. The
Altenau Brewery is the last remaining brewery in the Upper Harz. For 400 years, it has stood for a successful brewing tradition. During a brewery tour for groups of 10 to 20 people, you will learn everything about the history of beer brewing in Altenau, the raw materials, primary fermentation, storage, maturation, filtration, and bottling. A total of four different beer types are brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot. In addition to these beers, the "Oberharzer Brunnen" mineral water and three types of lemonades are also produced. At the
Canary Museum in Sankt Andreasberg, you can learn everything about the Harz Roller. The so-called Harz bird is a canary that was formerly bred by miners as a side income.
Food and Drink in the Harz
If you are spending your vacation in an apartment or holiday home in Altenau, you should definitely try the specialties from the kitchen and kettle. The
Harzer Schmorwurst, for example, is made from chopped pork, caraway, and bacon. It is first boiled and then smoked. Alongside the fattier Bregenwurst, the Schmorwurst is a classic accompaniment to Braunkohl. Braunkohl is another name for kale, which is served with belly meat and fried or boiled potatoes.
The
Harz is a traditional beer region, producing over two million hectoliters of beer each year. A popular drink for over 1000 years and a nice souvenir is the
Schierker Feuerstein. This herbal half-bitter is a famous spirit, whose place of production, a Schierker pharmacy, can still be visited today. If you don't want to cook in your apartment or holiday home, let yourself be pampered with culinary delights from the region in one of Altenau's restaurants.
Vacation with Children in the Harz
Whether in summer or winter, the Upper Harz landscape, with its many
family-friendly houses and modern apartments, such as in the Ferienpark Glockenberg, attracts numerous families with children every year. But it's not just children; pets are also allowed in many accommodations. The many forests and varied landscapes are ideal for a
vacation with a dog. On warm days, the forest swimming pool Okerteich invites you for a cool dip. The bathing spot is one of the most beautiful in the Harz. Also, consider a trip to the nearby Braunlage.
A popular destination for both adults and children is the Baumwipfelpfad
Bad Harzburg. The 1,000-meter-long path runs through the Cold Valley and features 50 adventure stations. Marvel at the animals in the Upper Harz forests and watch a wildlife feeding. Another great activity with children is playing mini-golf at
Glowgolf. Here, you are transported into a magical world of legends with black light effects. Adults pay 9€ per round, children up to and including 13 years pay 8€ per round. The prices include equipment. The opening hours are (as of November 2023):
• Wed-Fri: 2 PM – 6 PM
• Sat & Sun: 11 AM – 6 PM
Tourist Highlights in Altenau
The Upper Harz is the highest region in Northern Germany. Surrounded by gentle mountain heights and dreamy forests, you will experience an eventful vacation in one of the holiday homes or in a modern vacation apartment. The region is a paradise for nature lovers, hikers, winter sports enthusiasts, and cyclists. Due to its central location, Altenau is an ideal starting point for excursions and explorations throughout the Harz. Visit medieval towns, discover deep caves in the mining town of Altenau, or take the
Burgberg Cable Car up to the Großer Burgberg. Now rent a holiday accommodation with a balcony at an affordable price and enjoy a relaxing vacation in the climatic health resort town between hiking trails and beautiful landscapes. If you want to take a larger excursion, consider the towns of
Bad Grund, Bad Lauterberg, and
Bad Sachsa.
From the Ilberger Albert Tower in Bad Grund, you have an impressive view over the Upper Harz Mountains, into the Harz foreland, and up to the Brocken. On a hike through the
World Forest Harz, you will learn about rare woody plants from all continents. The state-approved spa town of Lauterberg is nestled among quiet mountain lakes and rushing rivers. The
Kurpark with its pond facilities, old tree stock, adjacent spa house, and music pavilion invites you to linger. Bad Sachsa, located on the southern edge of the Harz, is one of the most beautiful vacation and spa towns in Lower Saxony. In winter, everything revolves around winter sports on the local mountain. If you want to do something good for your health while being active, a
climatic health hike through the enchanting nature of the Harz is just right for you. In Altenau, you have the opportunity to hike along classified climatic health hiking trails along the ditch system of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Upper Harz Water Management."