Tourists love small old European towns. One of these is the city of Wernigerode (Germany). Over its long history, the city has retained the atmosphere and architecture of antiquity. When you get here, you feel like in the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm: half-timbered houses, narrow streets, a castle on a hill, it seems that around the corner you will meet Little Red Riding Hood or the Bremen Town Musicians.
Geography
The ancient city of Wernigerode (Germany) is located at the foot of the northern Harz Mountains. It belongs to the Land of Saxony-Anhalt, which became part of Germany after the accession of the GDR to it. Wernigerode is part of the administrative district of Harz and is located near the capital of the Halberstadt district. The city is almost adjacent to the National Park, it is surrounded by dense forests, mountains, two rivers - the place is completely idyllic.
History
For the first time Wernigerode (Germany) is mentioned in documents from the middle of the 9th century. Since the 12th century, the city has been the location of the residence of the local prince; the first castle fortress was built for him. In the 16th century, the city was badly damaged by fire, later it was damaged by invaders during the Thirty Years War. However, part of the buildings has been preserved since that time. In the 19th century, part of the neighborhoods was destroyed by another fire. But during the Second World War, the city went around the bombing, and today the city center retains its historical appearance, and therefore is protected by UNESCO. Currently, about 35 thousand inhabitants live in Wernigerode, and thousands of tourists come here every year to see this toy city with their own eyes. For Russian moviegoers, he may seem vaguely familiar, because they shot the film “The Munchausen”.
sights
In Europe there are a lot of small towns dating back to the Middle Ages, they have a special charm, travelers from different parts of the Earth seek them. One of these places is Wernigerode (Germany). The sights of this city date back to the 13th, 17th, 18th centuries, ancient streets and houses are preserved here, from which it blows history and romance.
A real symbol of the city is the town hall building. It was built in the 13th century, then a gambling house was located here, in which counts von Wernigerode and their many guests had fun. In the 15th century, the house was rebuilt and acquired its present appearance. This building, with two turrets, a half-timbered floor, wooden sculptures on the facade, is very similar to a dollhouse. In summer, you can get to the Town Hall with a guided tour, in winter you will have to limit yourself to an external examination. The building attracts newlyweds from all around, they want to register the marriage in such a romantic place.
The city has preserved several churches of different time periods. The oldest is the church of St. John, its western tower dates from the end of the 13th century.
Wernigerode is a real open-air museum, here every house has its own legend. The most interesting are:
- The smallest house - its width is less than 3 meters, it was built in 1800.
- Crooked house - it was rebuilt from a water mill in 1680. Water under the house undermined its base, and the building leaned to one side.
- Krummel House - the end of the 17th century, it is notable for the fact that its facade is lined with wood and decorated with spectacular reliefs.
Another attraction is the busy shopping street, lined with lovely houses, which houses hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and shops. From the medieval wall that protected the city, only the Westerntourturm tower has survived. Its brutal appearance impresses tourists.
Castle
Of particular interest to tourists is the Wernigerode Castle (Germany). The first fortress appeared in this place in the 12th century. Later, the counts of Stolberg-Wernigerode rebuilt the building several times, at the end of the 19th century the castle acquired its final appearance. Inside there is a museum where you can see 40 rooms with preserved and restored atmosphere. The castle walls offer breathtaking views of the city and surrounding areas, panoramas can be admired from the cafe located inside.
Where to stay
It’s better to come to Wernigerode (Germany) for a couple of days in order to walk around the city with pleasure, ride along the narrow gauge railway to the mountains, walk along mountain trails, go into the castle, and most importantly, enjoy the atmosphere of the place. There are usually many tourists here during the day, and in the evening everything calms down, few guests and local residents remain, lights in cafes and restaurants turn on, a real fairy tale sets in.
Accommodation can be booked in one of the cozy hotels. There are no giant chain hotels. The main base is made up of small family hotels, which offer the highest quality service. For example, the popular Hotel Altstadtoase gives you the opportunity to live in a 17th-century house while gaining modern comfort. There is another option - Apart Hotel Wernigerode on an old shopping street in the heart of the city, where you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of the past, but not lose the convenience of modern hotels.
The main fund of hotels in the city are hotels with a rating of 3 and 4 stars, but you can find more economical or more luxurious accommodation.
Tourists reviews
In the stories of travelers about trips to Europe, one can read many enthusiastic words addressed to small medieval cities. The most famous of them are Strasbourg, Colmar, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bamberg, Josselin, Gruyeres, recently Wernigerode (Germany) also more often falls into this list. Photos from trips to this city are striking in the abundance of "toy" houses with flowers on the windows, narrow streets and spectacular views from the castle walls. Tourists in their reviews note that the city attracts with a pleasant atmosphere, an abundance of cute cafes, well-groomed streets and houses. None of those who visit this place remain disappointed. Tourists say that you need to allocate at least a full summer day to the city, and preferably two, to take a leisurely walk and feel the spirit of the place.
How to get there
The most convenient way to get to Wernigerode (Germany) is from Gospar and Halberstadt. There is a nice direct train from here once every hour. From Gospar it is easy to get to Hanover, and from Halberstadt to Magdeburg and further to Berlin. The bus connection in this region is poorly developed, a taxi can be an alternative to the train.