Blankenburg Excursion Destinations

During your stay with us, we recommend a stroll through the castle gardens, which are located directly next to our hotel. The baroque garden, the terraced garden, and the pheasant garden are particularly impressive. The small pleasure garden, with its miniature castle, fountains, sandstone figures, vases, colorful flowerbeds, and meticulously manicured hedges, is especially vibrant during the warmer months.

Spanning over 100 hectares, the Baroque palace gardens dating back to the 17th century, nestled between the Great and Small Palaces, are among the largest and oldest of their kind in Saxony-Anhalt. In 2016, the Blankenburg Palace Gardens received the "Green Flag Award," a distinction for gardens in exceptionally good condition and offering an appealing visitor experience. To this day, the town of Blankenburg invests considerable time and resources in the upkeep and preservation of this beautiful garden and parkland.

Directly in front of our beautiful castle hotel, the magnificent Great Castle sits enthroned on the "Blankenstein" hill overlooking the flower town of Blankenburg.

The largest remaining Welf castle is the landmark of the town of Blankenburg, boasting a history spanning over 900 years. It is the fourth structure to stand on this site, evolving from medieval castle ruins and Renaissance palace buildings. The castle and palace have experienced a turbulent history closely intertwined with the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and the most important ruling houses of Europe.

Admission to the castle is free, and the courtyard, other areas, and exhibition rooms are freely accessible. The interior can only be visited as part of a guided tour, which is subject to a fee. These tours take place exclusively from March to December on Saturdays between 14 pm and 16 pm, or on special occasions. There are also regularly changing exhibitions to admire. Civil wedding ceremonies with up to 60 guests can be held in the Grey Hall of the Great Castle.

Below the castle are the fantastic Baroque gardens with the tea house and the Princess Tower.

Below the Great Blankenburg Welfen Castle is the Little Castle, directly in front of the parking lot of our castle hotel.

It was built in 1725 as a princely garden house in the classic Baroque style. It connects the Baroque palace gardens with the old town and impresses architecturally with its meticulous attention to detail and flowing forms. One of the city's most prominent "children" was born in the Little Palace in 1917: the future Queen Frederica of Hanover, grandmother of King Felipe VI of Spain.

Today, the ground floor houses the modern tourist information office and the project office of the Harz Hiking Badge. Exhibitions, concerts, and civil wedding ceremonies take place in the event hall.

Blankenburg is one of the best-preserved examples of small German Baroque residences. Below the castle hill and within the historic city walls lies the charming old town with its numerous picturesque half-timbered buildings. The oldest surviving house is located on Bäuersche Straße and was built in 1423. A stroll through the historic old town, including a visit to Lange Straße, a shopping arcade, is highly recommended.

The medieval-looking Blankenburg town hall, the St. Bartholomew's mountain church and Germany's only hostel museum are also worth seeing.

The former Michaelstein Monastery, with its almost 900-year history, is located right on the edge of Blankenburg and is always worth a visit! History buffs, music fans, and plant lovers alike will find something to enjoy here.

The museum, along with the Saxony-Anhalt Music Academy located here, is a popular tourist attraction. There's something new to discover all year round: whether on a guided tour of the monastery's history, gardens, and music, or in the numerous workshops for all ages.

The Michaelstein Monastery Concerts, held annually between spring and autumn, offer programs ranging from chamber music to large-scale oratorios. The listed monastery complex provides an unparalleled atmosphere: in the refectory, the salon, the old forge, the large concert hall, or the music barn.

Who hasn't heard the legend of the Devil's Wall?! This natural monument features numerous towering rock formations and shapes the landscape between Blankenburg, Timmenrode, and Weddersleben-Neinstedt. A must-see for hikers!

From our castle hotel, you can easily take a short walk to the Devil's Wall (at the Grandfather Rock). The section of the Devil's Wall in Blankenburg known as "Heidelberg" has already caught the attention of the earliest Harz Mountain writers. Its bizarre formations gave rise to many legends. Nearby are the "Thunderstorm Grotto" and the "Fox's Den," an artificial rock cellar accessible to visitors. The eastern end of the Blankenburg Devil's Wall is dominated by a small medieval fortification, the "Kucksburg."

Hiking tip: The panoramic trail starts at the famous Großvaterfelsen (Grandfather Rock) and offers truly breathtaking views! The winding path leads over cliffs and through narrow rock crevices, past the "Gewittergrotte" (Thunderstorm Grotto), to the frequently used film set "Hamburger Wappen" near Timmenrode. The trail then leads back to Blankenburg via the sunny southern slope path at the foot of the Teufelsmauer (Devil's Wall).

Take a journey back in time to the Regenstein castle ruins in Blankenburg!

The remains of the castle, first mentioned in 1169, are situated on a prominent rocky spur about three kilometers north of Blankenburg. A unique feature is the architecture carved out of the sandstone, with its 32 rock-cut chambers and ditches still preserved today. The entire site is designed as an open-air museum. From the higher rock platforms, a panoramic view of up to 50 km is possible on a clear day.

At Regenstein Fortress, you'll also find the "Knightly Eagle and Falconry." Here, you have the opportunity to see birds of prey, vultures, and owls flying freely and then, moments later, to experience them up close. Around Regenstein, there are wonderful hiking trails just waiting to be explored!

Even in the Middle Ages, water power was of great importance for agriculture and crafts. Watermills were built in Blankenburg starting in the 12th century. Today, parts of the five mills within and the seven outside the city walls are still preserved, and some have already been partially reconstructed. The Obermühle, Münzmühle, and Regensteinmühle are particularly worth seeing.

A particularly beautiful hiking route can be found on the Mill Trail (10,5 km long / approx. 4 hours). The path begins in Blankenburg on the Goldbach stream, leads along the fish ponds and past the Mönchemühle, Birkentalmühle, Goldbacher Mühle, and Regensteinsmühle mills, all the way to the legendary Regenstein rock castle. Here you can enjoy a first-class view of the Brocken mountain on one side and the northern Harz foothills on the other.

Hidden away in a pine forest below the Regenstein mountain, the sandstone caves are a hidden gem in the Harz Mountains. Reachable via an easy hike, they resemble a beach more than the Harz Mountains. This natural monument, likely unique in the Harz region, lies in a large clearing with almost dazzling white sand. The sand caves are carved into rocks approximately three meters high, some of which have been rounded by wind and weather. They are remnants of quartz sand extraction, which continued from the Middle Ages until the end of the 19th century. It is believed that the Germanic tribes used this site as a meeting place in prehistoric times.

The hiking trail starts from the parking lot near Regenstein Castle and winds through the forest, past beautiful clearings and the castle's outcrops, which appear at the foot of the castle hill. The path is approximately 1,2 kilometers long, and you should allow 20-30 minutes for the hike, depending on your pace. This excursion can be ideally combined with a visit to the Regenstein Castle ruins. Both the sandstone caves and Regenstein Castle have stamping stations for the Harz Hiking Badge.

Fun for the whole family! The "Am Thie" natural outdoor swimming pool is located in the heart of Blankenburg. You can reach the pool, complete with a sunbathing lawn, diving rocks, stainless steel slide, and adventure pool, in just a 10-minute walk directly from the castle hotel. Thanks to state-of-the-art biological treatment technology, it's 100% chlorine-free and unique in Saxony-Anhalt. The pool is also wheelchair accessible.