Brocken mountains, Germany

PhilMary

PhilMary

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I'm thinking of a change from my normal spring bike riding ? visit to France and wondered about the Brocken Mountains district in Germany.
Any thoughts anyone?
Thanks
Phil
 
The Brocken was the hill with all the radio masts on for listening to what NATO forces were up to in West Germany. It was on a TV programmes a year or so ago and I think there is some sort of museum there now. Could be wrong so don't blame if you cycle to the top and find nothing. :)
 
Cannot comment on the cycling, but be aware the weather will be colder than here. For example average April high 3° low -2° and 13 days rain.
We have travelled a little south of Brocken, visiting Eisenach, Erfurt and Jena and found the towns all had something of interest.
 
Just Googled the Brocken Mountain range you mention out of curiosity as I've never heard of it as a group of 6 of us (motorcyclists) are touring a German mountain range in May. By coincidence it appears to be the same place you refer to as Brocken, only we know it as the Harz mountains (and National Park). We are booked to stay in Wernigerode which is about 15 km from Brocken to the east and looks stunning with the usual picture postcard half timbered buildings etc.
David (of David and Sally - members on here) is organising our trip and will no doubt be along soon and should be able to assist you with his knowledge of the area as I believe he has visited the area before.

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Wernigerode was the 'show town' for the East Germans.
The Stellplatz is within walking distance of the Station where the steam trains are available to travel to the top of the Brocken Mountain, where it can get quite windy.
 
Thanks Kev and Ju From my initial research there are the steam trains, some interesting bridges & rivers, scenery, motor museums ans WW2 stuff. Being a mountainous area that's the interesting thing for us motorcyclists. Maybe just a bit more dramatic than the Vosges but not up to Pyrennes or Alps standards.
 
We went many years ago, couldn't say about cycling but great for walking, really enjoyed it with the whistle of the steam trains going up and down the mountain, it was very cold when we went and snow at the brocken, I think even in the summer if not the warmest place, we stayed at a stelplatz at Elend belonging to a hotel and the chap that owned it at that time, was a saxophone player with the Rolling Stones in the 1960s he had loads of photos in the bar, and because we are English never charged us. ? Bob.
 
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One thing that springs to mind, when we visited there was a lot of military activity, I don't know if it was a regular thing for training. ? Bob.
 
Have been to the Hartz with mountain bikes. Are you looking for road bike stuff?
 
Chipster said:
Have been to the Hartz with mountain bikes. Are you looking for road bike stuff?
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If it warrants it I can use either as I can carry all three, mountain bike/ uphill, road bike/zooming along, recumbent/back ache.
Phil
 
David and Sally said:
OP may be. But any motorcycling info really appreciated.

OP, sorry for the hijack. I'll bale out if you wish
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No, don't bale, most motorcycle routes are fine for road bike I just watch for distance and motorways.
Phil

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PhilMary said:
If it warrants it I can use either as I can carry all three, mountain bike/ uphill, road bike/zooming along, recumbent/back ache.
Phil
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What would make you choose to go out on the recumbent over the road bike? Never tried one but would if got the chance. Is it not more comfortable?
 
Captured by the Americans at the end of WW2. After a few years, the Russians realised it was in their sector and kicked the Yanks out. They used it as a listening post until the wall came down.
We took the steam train up, then walked down. Much colder (a good few degrees colder) up top than at the bottom. There is a visitor centre , restaurant and shop up there. These pics were taken June ‘18 and it was horrible on the Brocken. The microclimate is used by a research centre up there where they specialise in growing mountain plants from the Andes etc. The lower picture is of the old listening station at the summit.

Were plenty of cyclists when we went.

The Hartz Mountains area have plenty to see and do, plenty of Stellplätzen to stay on, free or low cost.
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Hi, we did a decent tour of Germany in 2015 - started with Mosel, far too busy - headed north to the Danude staying at Kirchell ACSI - do not do Aires etc as can not see the attraction of waking up in the middle of a traveller site (could stay in Devon and do that!) - Oberwesel and Mittenberger nice headed to Potsdam via Schwerin (go to Potsdam) - then to Harz which as Kev & Ju say are not the Alps but decent hills - stayed at Osterode where there is a brill vet who charged 7E for pet passport process - it was the first time in 3 months that they had anyone speaking English and the were Dutch! - Werngerode and Sosetalsperre nice with lots of motorcycling around Sosetalsperre - ended up at Koblenz
Would also recommend the 'Romatic Route' and Oberammergau but hey Germany is just great
Oh, forgot to say, walked up the Brocken through the woods but there is a good road all the way to the top + cracking steam train - lucky with the weather which was good in late September

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saw the thread title and thought you meant Brocken Bach, the Mecca for gay German Cowboys
 
DBK said:
The Brocken was the hill with all the radio masts on for listening to what NATO forces were up to in West Germany. It was on a TV programmes a year or so ago and I think there is some sort of museum there now. Could be wrong so don't blame if you cycle to the top and find nothing. :)
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I remember the radio masts on the Brocken. Sadly I can offer no current information about the Harz mountains, as the last time I was there on my bike Germany was still separated as East and West! And the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz was the wrong side of the border. There were some great old towns like Goslar and plenty of biking and other leisure opportunities – I imagine there are probably more now.

As uncouth youths we used to climb up the look-out posts built on the western side of the border and mock the East German soldiers on their look-out posts in the east, hoping that the threat of causing a diplomatic incident would prevent them from opening fire.

I remember all the tourist shops sold Harzhexen (Harz witches): they were supposed to fly around the Brocken, especially on Walpurgisnacht (April 30th).
harzhexe.jpg
 
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Kev and Ju said:
Just Googled the Brocken Mountain range you mention out of curiosity as I've never heard of it as a group of 6 of us (motorcyclists) are touring a German mountain range in May. By coincidence it appears to be the same place you refer to as Brocken, only we know it as the Harz mountains (and National Park). We are booked to stay in Wernigerode which is about 15 km from Brocken to the east and looks stunning with the usual picture postcard half timbered buildings etc.
David (of David and Sally - members on here) is organising our trip and will no doubt be along soon and should be able to assist you with his knowledge of the area as I believe he has visited the area before.
Click to expand...
Make sure you wrap up warm, a group of us had a ride out around the Hertz a few years ago, and I was frozen:( , been a few times enjoyed all of it. First time we visited Wernigerode was about 3 or 4 years after the wall came down old roads, horses and carts in the fields, it's all changed now. ( Might go again this year with M/h).
Enjoy look out for the Witch's.
 
Great suggestions everyone.
The decision is made, the Harz National Park it is.
Thanks to all for your help.
Phil
 
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