Legendary creatures of the Harz Mountains (Peter Widmann)
It’s easy to see why the thick forests and dramatic rocky outcroppings of the Harz Mountains are steeped in myth and legend. This misty limestone upland became a safe haven for pagans during Charlemagne’s eighth-century Christianization campaigns.
It is a lingering heritage that means each stream, cave or cliff has a specific story about the fairy, dwarf, gnome or witch that protects it. These stories formed the basis for many of the Brothers Grimm tales, and many more were translated into English in 1885 by Canadian author Maria Elise Turner Lauder.
One such legend is that of the dwarf King Hübich. Harz dwarves are an ancient group who live in underground caves and mine their riches. Now, they are seldom seen, but in times past, they would play with human children or help people in the forest. One day, two teenagers argued over who could climb to the top of a rock spire and one got stuck on top.
The entrance to King Hübich’s kingdom was underneath, so the dwarf king helped the youth down and took him into the mountain to see his vast kingdom where the walls glittered and crystal chandeliers lit the way. The youth was gifted a pile of gold and silver, but King Hübich made him promise to protect the rock spire and not allow others to shoot birds from it.
He kept his promise and you can still, to this day visit the Hübichenstein rock spire in Bad Grund and hike (or drive) the König Hübich Route to the Höhlen Erlebnis Zentrum (Cave experience center).
rock outcropping in the Harz mountains (pengelmann - stock.adobe.com)
In another legend, a dwarf guards a special cavern under the Kyffhäuser Mountain range. Inside, Kaiser Frederick I Barbarossa is enchanted and asleep on an ivory chair at a marble table. His red beard has grown so long it covers the entire table. Ghosts of his old courtiers still wait on him when he wakes every hundred years to see if there are still ravens flying around the mountain.
When the ravens have gone, he will return to lead Germany. You can search for the sleeping emperor inside the Barbarossahöhle (cave). Barbarossa is considered one of the greatest German leaders of the Holy Roman Empire, and his reign during this “first Reich” has been glorified by subsequent leaders. This is why a monument sits atop a ruined medieval castle at the Kyffhäuser Denkmal.
The entire Harz Mountain region is full of tourist caves and mines. Mining for silver, copper, lead and zinc defined the area from the 16th to 19th centuries, but the tradition goes back thousands of years. At the Rammelsberg Museum, you can take a mine train deep inside this UNESCO heritage site.
Barbarossa at the Kyffhäuser Monument (Karsten Eggert)
While witch hunts of the 1500s and 1600s were rampant in Europe, the Harz mountains became a place known for its high number of trials. However, one place has reclaimed it witchy heritage and leans heavily in witch-themed tourism.
The town of Thale in the Harz is the best destination for witch enthusiasts. Downtown are all manner of shops and small museums dedicated to the dark arts. There is also a forest full of witch inspired attractions. There are rides in an area called Fun Island, a mountain coaster, animal park and witch-themed restaurants.
From Thale the Seilbahnen cable car takes you to the Hexentanzplatz (witches dance place) where witches of old supposedly had their yearly gatherings to celebrate the arrival of spring. Even today, this flat topped mountain is a celebrated pagan location. On Hexennacht, the evening of April 30, witches still ascend the hilltop for a massive party.
View from the top of the Hexentanzplatz ()
