Torfhaus Viewpoint & Brocken Panorama
The high plateau of Torfhaus, just 8 km south-west of Altenau at 800 metres elevation, offers the single most photogenic unobstructed view of the Brocken — the Harz's legendary 1,141-metre summit — across an open moorland of bog pines and cotton grass. On clear mornings the Brocken floats above the mist like a grey island in the sky.
The Viewing Platform & Visitor Centre
The National Park House Torfhaus (Nationalparkhaus Torfhaus) sits right at the viewpoint and has free outdoor terraces oriented directly toward the Brocken. Inside, excellent bilingual exhibitions explain the Harz's unique raised-bog ecosystem and the mythology surrounding the Brocken, from Walpurgis Night witch legends to Cold War-era spy stations.
The viewing platform is at its best in late October when low cloud fills the valleys and only the Brocken's summit protrudes — a phenomenon locals call the 'Brocken spectre sea.'
Hiking Directly to the Brocken
From Torfhaus the classic Goethe Trail (Goetheweg) climbs 8.5 km directly to the Brocken summit, following the same route Johann Wolfgang von Goethe took in 1777. The path is wide, well-marked and manageable in 2.5–3 hours uphill, rewarding you with views across six German states on clear days.
The Brocken summit hosts a weather station, a museum inside the historic stone station building, and a narrow-gauge steam railway (Brockenbahn) that you can ride back down to Wernigerode — a wonderfully lazy way to descend after the climb.
More of Altenau
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Altenau →
