#8 - Brocken / #9 Wurmberg

Hannover - Hildesheim - Goslar

Hannover - Highlights

  • The Herrenhäuser Gardens: An impressive baroque garden with several themed gardens, including the Great Garden, the Berggarten with exotic plants and the Georgengarten.
  • The New Town Hall: An imposing neo-Renaissance building that offers a magnificent view from its dome. Visitors can also explore the Maschsee lake nearby.
  • The Old Town (Hannoverer Altstadt): Here you will find many historic buildings, charming alleys and cosy cafés. The Marktkirche and the Old Town Hall are particularly worth seeing.
  • The Sprengel Museum: A renowned museum for modern and contemporary art with works by artists such as Picasso, Klee, Nolde and many others.

Hildesheim - Highlights

  • Hildesheim Cathedral: Hildesheim Cathedral, officially known as St. Mary's Assumption, is one of the oldest Episcopal churches in Germany and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive architecture, the bronze doors of Hildesheim Cathedral and the Romanesque cathedral treasure vault are particularly impressive.
  • St. Michael's Church: St. Michael's Church is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hildesheim. It is one of the most important Romanesque churches in Germany and impresses with its architectural beauty and the famous Bernward doors.
  • Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum: This museum houses an extensive collection of Egyptian and Near Eastern works of art. It is especially known for its Egyptian collection, including mummies, sarcophagi and other artefacts from Ancient Egypt.
  • Historic market square ensemble: Hildesheim's market square is surrounded by historic half-timbered houses and forms a picturesque ensemble. Here you will find the Knochenhaueramtshaus, considered one of the most beautiful half-timbered houses in Germany, as well as the Roland monument and the historic town hall.
  • Domäne Marienburg: The Domäne Marienburg is an impressive castle in the neo-Gothic style, situated on a hill above the city. The castle is surrounded by an extensive park and offers a magnificent view of Hildesheim.
  • St. Andrew's Church: St. Andrew's Church is another impressive church in Hildesheim. It was built in the Gothic style and houses valuable works of art, including altars, paintings and sculptures.

Goslar - Highlights

  • Kaiserpfalz Goslar: The Kaiserpfalz is an impressive castle that once served as the residence of the German emperors. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today houses the Kaiserpfalz Museum.
  • Market Square: Goslar's market square is a historic place with beautiful half-timbered houses. Here you will find the Gothic town hall, considered one of the most beautiful town halls in Germany.
  • Rammelsberg mine: The Rammelsberg mine is an old ore mine that was in operation for over 1,000 years. It offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of mining and take underground guided tours.
  • St. Mariae and St. Stephanus Cathedral: The cathedral is the main church of Goslar and an important example of Romanesque architecture. The interior of the cathedral is richly decorated and houses valuable works of art.
  • Mönchehaus Museum: The Mönchehaus Museum is a contemporary art museum exhibiting modern art and sculptures. It is located in a restored half-timbered house.
  • Goslar Museum: The Goslar Museum is dedicated to the history and culture of the city. It displays a variety of exhibits, including archaeological finds, works of art and historical artefacts.

Some detours due to road works brought me to Himmelreich, before I came to Hannover for some sightseeing,  science, parcs, places. And continued for a lunch break in Hildesheim,  Dom, St. Andreas, etc. A last leg to Goslar to be in a pole position for a double feature tomorrow: Brocken and Wurmberg. Brocken was already visible from afar today.

Mountain #8 - Brocken / Mountain #9 - Wurmberg

Mountain #8 - Brocken, Sachsen-Anhalt

Saxony-Anhalt, known as Sachsen-Anhalt in German, is one of the states in Germany. It shares borders with Brandenburg, Saxony, Thuringia, and Lower Saxony. With an area of 20,451.7 square kilometers and a population of 2.17 million people, it ranks as the eighth largest state in Germany in terms of area and the eleventh largest in terms of population. The state's capital is Magdeburg, and its largest city is Halle (Saale).

At 1,142 metres, the Brocken is the highest mountain in Saxony-Anhalt.

Mountain #9 - Wurmberg, Niedersachsen

Lower Saxony, also known as Niedersachsen in German, is situated in the northwestern region of Germany. It holds the second position in terms of land area, covering 47,614 square kilometers, and ranks fourth in population, with approximately 8 million inhabitants as of 2021. Within this state, rural areas still retain the usage of Northern Low Saxon and Saterland Frisian languages, although their prevalence is diminishing over time.

At 971 metres, the Wurmberg is the highest mountain in Lower Saxony.

Double feature. And two hills that I actually had to climb. Goslar rather low, uphill with cars and lorries,  then a sometimes quite steep track to Brocken. Transfer on concrete blocks with huge holes to Wurmberg and another steep ascent.  Via Braunlage to Nordhausen visiting KZ Mittelbau Dora and another 25km to a lake with a campsite.