Germany > Saxony-Anhalt > Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains
N 51°43.971', E 11°1.543'
2020-10-24, 2022-10-16
Our rating: 7.00
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
One of the places with a comprehensive set of attractions, and one of the best places in Northern Germany to visit in the fall. The German name Hexentanzplatz translates as "the place where witches dance," and witches are known to be a symbol of the Harz Mountains. The location is considered an old Saxon place of worship, where festivals in honor of forest and mountain goddesses were held on the night of May 1. Witches' souvenirs and sculptures are everywhere.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
There are two ways to get to the top, by car or by cable car. I highly recommend the second way, as the views are incredible. From the lower parking lot, cross the river on the bridge.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
And walk past the tourist lodges and restaurants.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
There are two cablecar stations below, skip the first one, to Rosstrappe .
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
There is a pretty big amusement park for kids near the lower cabel car stations. With playgrounds, rides and a rope park.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Arrive early as queues can be quite long on weekends.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
View of the city of Thale from the cabel car.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Rocks on the way
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
At the top station, go around the building and go to the viewpoint right here 51.736564, 11.028846 . You will walk on strange stones, at first I even wondered why a normal path had not been laid here. It turned out that these stones are the remains of Sachsenwall, an ancient defensive wall built here in 750-450 BC. Another landmark is the beautiful wooden building Walpurgis Hall. It was built in 1901 in order to create a room for the celebration of Walpurgis Night. Even further away is one of the largest open-air theaters, Harzer Bergtheater Thale.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Go to the left of the hall and you will come to an excellent viewpoint, which offers a view of Rostrappe and the city of Thale.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Next, go back to the cable car station and climb the path to the central part of Hexentanzplatz. There are many restaurants and shops, as well as a huge car park. Behind the parking lot is the Harzbob, summer sled run.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
"Upside down house"
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
There is also another viewpoint.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
The canyon you see is called Bodetal.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Climb even higher, to a small zoo with animals that inhabit the Harz mountain range. The big five are: black grouse, lynx, red deer, raccoon and wild cat.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
At the end of the walk around the zoo, go to a cozy cafe on the territory, there is also a playground and a petting zoo.
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains ©Yuriy Buriak
Useful links with opening hours and prices:https://www.seilbahnen-thale.de/en/attractions/gondola/opening-hours/ - cable carhttps://www.seilbahnen-thale.de/en/attractions/fun-island/opening-hours/ - amusement park near the lower cabel car stationhttps://www.seilbahnen-thale.de/en/attractions/harzbob/ - summer sleighhttps://www.bodetal.de/bodetalurlaub/tierpark/ - zoohttps://www.bodetal.de/bodetalurlaub/veranstaltungen/harzerbergtheater/ - theater
Map of Thale ©@
Getting there: parking upstairs 51.732201, 11.026720 , parking downstairs 51.746173, 11.026835 .
Tags, Germany: amusements , mountains , observation deck , ski lift , zoo Tags, all countries: amusements , mountains , observation deck , ski lift , zoo
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help