Day 3
May 10, 2025
Bad Harzburg – Bernburg
Just like in France in the old days. Magnificent highways through sparsely populated regions. Sleepy villages, here and there a stately estate with a magnificent manor house. The tour from Bad Harzburg to Halberstadt was a delight. Ilsenburg and Werningerode offer postcard views at every turn. Wernigerode, in particular, has apparently managed to preserve its medieval old town with its magnificent timbered framed buildings unscathed during the Second World War. Railway nostalgia enthusiasts will surely rave about this: steam locomotives still pull vintage wagons through the countryside. I don’t even want to talk about the “good old days”: what these black giants spit out stinks and pollutes the air. At the station, you can see the locomotives being loaded with coal.
I couldn’t resist a stop at the „Hofcafé“ Mahndorf. A beautiful old estate. Until reunification, money was made here from seeds. Today, it offers restaurants and accommodations for guests. The operator claims that the blue skies are no exception. He says that rain clouds “too often” avoid this part of the Harz Mountains. “Too dry.” Not good for the farmers, but certainly an argument for tourists.
Today’s destination, Rheine’s twin town Bernburg, boasts the Saale River. It’s apparently a popular weekend destination for people from near and far. I was lucky enough to get a spot at the campsite. Paddling, rowing, fishing, cycling—anything relaxing is possible. Or you can climb up to the castle in the old town and watch the sun set far in the west. A fantastic view. Speaking of bike tours: The stretch from Straßfurt via Hohenerxleben along the Boden River is worth it. A new bike path is currently being built, but it’s not quite finished yet. A nice tour for excursions around Bernburg