Hiking in Germany: Unterer Bandweg in Stolberg

Lovers of picturesque towns and beautiful nature should definitely plan a visit to the Harz. Quedlinburg, Wernigerode, and Goslar are among the most famous towns, but don't forget Stolberg Certainly not. In terms of size, this town feels more like a village, with only 1300 inhabitants. It's surrounded by beautiful nature, which naturally invites you to go for a walk. Stolberg had been on my list to visit for years. I once saw a documentary about the last days of the GDR. The filmmakers drove a Trabant through Niedergasse, past the many half-timbered houses. It looked so fantastic, I actually wanted to drive through these streets in my own Trabant. Unfortunately, I'm afraid my Trabant won't make it that far. When I was on a trip through the northern Czech Republic we also stopped briefly in the Harz to visit Stolberg.

The Unterer Bandweg is a circular walk, so it doesn't really matter where you start. The Markt is mentioned online as the starting point, but we'll start at the train station. We can park there for free. From there, walk to Stadtpark, where you'll see the signposts with the various walking routes. Follow the green R2 markers for the Unterer Bandweg.

From the start, you gradually climb towards the center of Stolberg. You walk among the greenery and have beautiful views of the city from various points. The most striking building in Stolberg is, of course, the Stolberg Castle Towering high above the city, Stolberg Castle dates back to the 13th century and was home to the Counts of Stolberg. The castle was inhabited until 1945. After the war, it served as a FDGB holiday home until the fall of the Wall. Since 2008, the castle has been open to the public, and you can take a tour inside.

Time to grab your camera, because the first part of the walk offers some beautiful viewpoints. The Unterer Bandweg runs along the edge of the town center. Continue towards the Zechental valley. Before entering the town center, walk up the Alte Auersbergstrasse back into the greenery at the Friedhofskapelle chapel. There's a bench in the shade here, offering a fantastic view of the castle. Walk towards Hirtengasse, but turn right onto Bandweg. This leads to the Kaltes Tal valley and the fire station at the foot of the castle.

Now you're walking through the center of Stolberg for the first time, admiring the many half-timbered houses up close. It might be nice to take a break at the Markt, especially when it's so hot. Sit down at one of the terraces, order a drink, and enjoy the buildings around you. Around you, you'll see, among other things, the Saiger Tower, St. Martini Church And of course, Stolberg Castle. I've already written that I'd love to drive around these streets in my Trabant. How wonderful it is to see an old Wartburg 311. It perfectly captures the essence of Stolberg and explains why I wanted to go there.

Don't forget to explore Stolberg's other narrow streets before or after your walk. As mentioned, Stolberg isn't large, and you won't need hours to explore it. If possible, visit the castle, the Museum Alte Münze And enjoy a piece of cake and coffee at Café Friwi. But above all, enjoy the beautiful cityscape of Stolberg. Staying longer in Stolberg? Then be sure to explore the other walks around the city.