Altenbrak: Forest Stage, Local History Museum and Hiking Trails

Altenbrak lies between 300 and 350 metres above sea level and stretches for almost two kilometres along the Bode. Meadows and forests shape the surrounding landscape. Nature and culture go hand in hand when planning a trip: local trails, the local history museum and the seasonal programme at the forest stage. If you are looking for a hotel in Altenbrak, you can consider whether you would like to focus your time there on a performance, the museum’s exhibits or the surrounding landscape.

Altenbrak Forest Stage: Summer Festival from June to September

The Altenbrak Forest Stage was established in 1951. It is an outdoor stage designed in the style of an ancient amphitheatre. Summer festivals take place there every year from June to September. The programme includes family theatre, open-air concerts and a yodelling contest, among other events. The festival therefore features a range of theatre and music formats. If you would like to plan your trip around a particular performance, check the dates for the relevant year.

Local History Museum: Dollhouses, Local Traditions and Collections

The Altenbrak Local History Museum combines topics from the town’s history with various collections. Since 1999, visitors have been able to admire more than 25 handmade dollhouses there. The collection also includes historical household items, farming equipment and traditional regional costumes. Historical local customs are documented through clothing, artefacts and photographs. Minerals and animal specimens come from the Bode Valley between Altenbrak and Treseburg. The exhibits range from objects from everyday life in the past and regional clothing to natural history specimens with a specifically identified place of origin.

Trails and Hikes Around Altenbrak

Altenbrak has numerous hiking, therapeutic exercise and walking trails. One named route with several stops in local towns is the Three Valleys Circular Hike, which starts in Allrode. It passes Windenhütte Hunting Lodge and goes through Altenbrak and Treseburg. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between the trails generally described as being in Altenbrak and a circular hike whose starting point and other places along the route are known.

More Cultural and Hiking Experiences in the Wider Thale Destination

The wider Thale destination offers other distinct cultural and hiking experiences. Wendhusen Monastery was founded in Wendhusen in 825; Wendhusen is now part of Thale’s old town. The Thale Myth Trail is a themed walking route from the exit of the Bode Valley to the old town. It features thirteen sculptures created by various artists. The Devil’s Wall themed hiking trail also passes through Thale and touches all the distinctive rock formations of the Devil’s Wall.

For theatre, the wider Thale destination is home to the Harzer Bergtheater, an open-air theatre on the Hexentanzplatz. Its programme includes mystical stories, legendary fairy tales, operettas, musicals, plays and concerts, and changes with the seasons. The wider destination therefore offers different cultural experiences: the summer festivals at the Altenbrak Forest Stage and the seasonally changing programme of the Harzer Bergtheater in Thale. If you would like to include a specific performance in your travel plans, check the relevant programme.

Discover more destinations: Westerhausen, Stecklenberg, Allrode, Friedrichsbrunn, Neinstedt, Treseburg, Weddersleben

View the wider travel overview: Thale.