Harz Monastery Hiking Trail - 4th stage - Wernigerode to Blankenburg (track updated 8.2.24 with Blankenburg town crossing)

This stage, just over 18 km long, is quite demanding; Wernigerode alone is worth a longer stay. The town hall in its well-known current form dates back to 1540 and annually captivates countless visitors to the city. The path now leads straight through the old town towards the Lustgarten. The park is part of the overall ensemble of Wernigerode Castle, which towers visibly over the town. It is worth making a detour to St. Johannis Church, whose Romanesque core makes it the oldest preserved church in Wernigerode, and a bench of angels invites you to rest.

Leaving the town, the route runs along the edge of the forest towards the Wolfsholz settlement. The monastery hiking trail crosses the country road and continues along the Austberg towards Benzingerode. Shortly before the village, the Austberg tower, a watchtower built around 1250, offers a magnificent view of the Harz foreland.

In Benzingerode, the route passes by the distinctive neo-Romanesque church built around 1900 with interior wall paintings. A paved path continues beneath the Struvenberg and Ziegenberg hills. After crossing the road between Heimburg and Elbingerode, it goes on a gravel path down into the valley towards Michaelstein Monastery. Founded in 1146, the monastery still lies away from urban life. Until the 16th century, Cistercian monks lived, prayed, and worked here. Today, the Saxony-Anhalt Music Academy is housed in its rooms; the cloister buildings and monastery garden are publicly accessible. A forest path leads past the bast ponds and over the Eichenberg, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Blankenburg. Upon arrival in the Flower City, you are guided through the old town, where the next stamp can be collected at the Bergkirche St. Bartholomew. The parish church was built after 1200, converted into a monastery church in the mid-13th century, and since 1532 has been a parish church again. In Blankenburg, be sure to visit the baroque gardens from the Tourist Information!