Harzer Monastery Trail - Stage 3 - Ilsenburg to Wernigerode

Short description

3rd stage of the Harz Monastery Trail from Ilsenburg Monastery to Wernigerode Market Square.

Description

You start the 12 km long stage at Ilsenburg Monastery with a beautiful view of the city. The monastery, founded around 1018, was once one of the most influential Benedictine monasteries in the Harz region. The monastery church of St. Peter and Paul houses unique fragments of a gypsum stroke from the 12th century. The unique organ and the restored buildings of the south and east wings are definitely worth a visit. Concerts and events also take place in atmospheric rooms here.

Here too, there is a special stamping point for the Harz Monastery Trail in front of the monastery gate entrance. A stamp booklet for the monastery trail can be easily purchased at the local tourist information office. From the monastery, continue on the Harz Monastery Trail towards Drübeck through the castle park, which has been part of the Gartenträume Sachsen-Anhalt since 2019. Here too, you can enjoy the silence and maybe sit on one of the unique angel benches.

Then follow the trail through the forests between Ilsenburg and Drübeck. Upon arriving at Drübeck Monastery, you can relax in the monastery cafe - which also has a stamping point - or stroll through the very special and uniquely baroque reconstructed gardens of the monastery complex. The Romanesque monastery church of St. Vitus was probably built in the year 960. Drübeck Monastery is part of the Evangelical Church of Central Germany and today serves as a conference center, pastoral college, pedagogical-theological institute, and a great retreat. This monastery complex is also part of the Gartenträume Sachsen-Anhalt, which rediscovers historical parks in the region. Allow plenty of time for Drübeck Monastery and dont miss the guided tour and the delicious cake at the monastery cafe.

Back on the trail, newly laid out in 2024, it continues over the scenic Karberg to the beautiful village of Darlingerode. Darlingerode impresses with its beautiful nature and cultural highlights. Particularly worth seeing are the village church of St. Laurentius and the Komturhof, first mentioned in 1468 as curia de comtures in the monasterys Ilsenburg charter book, and whose local history room now showcases life in Darlingerode. From here, head towards Ütschenteich and past the former Augustinian hermit monastery Himmelpforten, founded in 1253, which was also visited by Martin Luther. Today, the site is abandoned. From there, the path leads directly to the upper district of Hasserode, a district of Wernigerode. Along the tracks of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway, you go straight to the city center of Wernigerode. Through the historic Western Gate and along the Westernstrasse, you reach Wernigerode Market Square.

Travel information

Take A36 towards Ilsenburg Monastery, Schlossstraße 26, 38871 Ilsenburg.

Parking information

Free parking is available directly at Ilsenburg Monastery. From there, you can start immediately towards Drübeck Monastery or towards Wöltingerode Monastery.

Safety instructions

Easy, ground-level stage, no special safety instructions.