Herzberg am Harz
Herzberg am Harz with its Suburbs of Lonau, Poehlde, Scharzfeld and Sieber is idyllically situated on the southern edge of the Harz. Easy to reach by car, as it is at the intersection of highways B27/B243, but still very close to nature as the Harz National Park immediately adjacent to the town. In the west, the city is dominated by the 950 years old Welfenschloss (castle), which is the largest castle in the timber frame work construction in Lower Saxony.
You are probably not aware that the birthplace of England is here. Duchess Anna Eleanor (1601-1659) lived at Schloss Herzberg alone, after her husband died in 1641. They had four sons and four daughters, who married across Europe. One of them, Duke Ernst August, became in 1692 the electorate for the Principality of Hanover. His eldest son, George Louis became in 1714 King of Great Britain - George I. There is a replica of an eight-meter-long wall tapestry, which was created as a life-size memory by the sons of the Duchess Anna Eleanor (1601-1659).
The small market square in Herzberg am Harz is surrounded by beautiful traditional timber framed houses. Enjoy shopping in the small boutiques, or have afternoon tea or coffee and enjoy Harzer Food in the traditional Restaurants. Lonau and Sieber are popular with hikers. The walk around Sieber is a special experience. The 8km long path was completed in 2005 and is now well sign posted and maintained. It leads along the edge of the woods and offers great views. The Harz National Park is located just outside and from here you can start superb walks to the traditional Bauden Restaurants. Popular is the walk to Grosser Knollen (big bulb) and Hanskuehnenburg (Hanskuehnen castle). In Sieber you have a 65,000 sqm nature park, which offers a great variety of sports and leisure activities in every season. The solar-heated swimming pool, the mini-golf course and a unique adventure play ground with a 50m long super slide is great fun for all ages.
If the royal history link has not surprised you yet, how about that Herzberg is an official "Esperanto" town. Since the early 1910 were records that local Esperanto pioneers were trying to establish this language. Active Esperanto speakers were in Herzberg since the mid-sixties. Back then Joachim Giessner began to teach the neutral language in the Herzberg train station. Now the centre is still located there, opposite the train station in the Interkulturelles Zentrum Herzberg, Grubenhagenstr. 6. There you can find a museum and a library with books, specialised language books and literure. The archive has over 500 newspaper recording and video as well as old movies.
Herzberg am Harz is easy to reach by car. Please be aware of the speed cameras on the B243 in Herzberg (both directions). From the North: A7 Hannover-Kassel, exit Seesen (B243) Osterode, then follow the B243 all the way to Herzberg am Harz. From the East: Take highways B80 or B85 towards Nordhausen, B243 to Herzberg From the South: A7 Kassel-Hannover, exit Gottingen (B27), follow the B27 all the way to Herzberg. Again there are a few speed cameras on the way. Herzberg has a train station. From there you can take local buses to other destinations.