Nature & Outdoor Activities
Biosphere Reserve Karstlandschaft Südharz
In the heart of Germany, the Karstlandschaft Südharz biosphere reserve is home to geological features, cultural and historical rarities and, as a special treasure, a wide variety of flora and fauna that is waiting to be discovered.
The natural conditions and man-made structures provide a habitat for countless animal and plant species. The southern Harz is one of the “biodiversity hotspots” in Germany! Together, nature and man have created a unique cultural landscape full of life. The southern Harz with its karst landscape is (still) an insider tip for tourists. In the southern Harz there are caves formed from tiny crevices in the rock, streams that disappear into the rock, funnel-shaped depressions in the terrain and a lake that is sometimes not a lake. Water is the master builder of this impressive gypsum karst landscape: as a constant drip, it hollows out the rock and creates bizarre formations. No matter what time of year - once you've been here, you'll be back. In spring, the sheer endless carpets of wild garlic and wood anemones, the fresh green of the vast beech and oak forests and the blossoming orchards beckon. Summer invites you to hike along the karst hiking trail or cycle between small old mine dumps that nature is slowly reclaiming. If it gets too hot, you can dive into the cool forests, where winding streams and sinkholes reveal the secrets of the karst landscape. Magnificent views of red-golden leaves in autumn and a snow-covered, festively decorated half-timbered town of Stolberg with its imposing castle in winter - it could hardly be more romantic.