Siptenfelde – Local History and Forest Plateau

Siptenfelde: Settlement and Landscape

Siptenfelde is an old settlement in the Lower Harz and is located on the Harzhochstraße 242. When the village was rebuilt, it stood on a plateau surrounded by dense mixed forest. The local history is thus linked to a clearly defined landscape setting.

Historical Traces

A document refers to Sipponuelth as a village. In it, King Otto I confirmed his mother Mathilde’s donation to the Quedlinburg convent. Another chapter in the village’s history is the “Neuedorf im Siptenfelde”: Prince Friedrich of Anhalt-Bernburg-Harzgerode had it established west of the old village site; a manor farm was later built there, too. The name and location of the new village distinguish this settlement from the old village site geographically.

Trails and Places Nearby

Near Siptenfelde, a hike from the ruins of Erichsburg Castle in the direction of Alexisbad follows the Friedensbach through wetlands to a turnoff for Marienquelle, 500 meters before Alexisbad. The “Trail of German Emperors and Kings” passes through a red beech forest protected as an FFH habitat to the ruins of Erichsburg Castle. The two route descriptions have different focal points: wetlands and the Friedensbach on the hike towards Alexisbad, and protected beech forest on the trail to the ruins. The direction of travel is also a useful distinction when planning: one hike leads away from the ruins, while the named trail leads towards them.

The site of Siptenfelde’s imperial hunting lodge is also thought to have been near the present-day Uhlenstein Forestry House in the Uhlenbach valley. This historical connection is therefore based on an assumption about the site’s location.

Harzgerode as a Wider Travel Destination

In the wider travel destination of Harzgerode, the 1,100-meter-long natural toboggan run winds down in several curves from the Harzgerode plateau into the Selke Valley, ending at the promenade in Alexisbad. Along the way, it descends around 75 meters. When there is too little snow, the route is also suitable for a winter hike. Both its elevation drop and its weather-dependent suitability for sledding are therefore relevant when considering the route.

Harzgerode Castle also brings together architectural and local history. It was rebuilt between 1549 and 1552 and served as the residence of the Harzgerode branch of the House of Anhalt from 1635 to 1709. The castle is a Renaissance building with a stair tower and a round tower. At the HARZKUGELEUM inside the castle, a beechwood sphere takes visitors through different themed worlds. Through its shape and weight, it conveys information about the Lower Harz, mining, nature, and local and regional history through the ages.

The Harzgerode Advent Trails are another seasonal attraction: they return to Harzgerode every year on the second Sunday of Advent as a pre-Christmas experience for the whole family. Dates and programs vary; if you would like to plan your trip around them, check the details for your chosen year.

Discover more destinations: Alexisbad, Güntersberge, Neudorf, Schielo, Dankerode.

Back to the wider travel overview: Harzgerode.