Discover Ilfeld: Landscape and History

Ilfeld lies in the Harz Geopark and offers visitors two distinct highlights: a protected landscape and the history of the town. The Bere Valley, viewpoints and named rock formations define its natural side; the local history museum covers various chapters of the town’s past. You can plan your trip around the topics that interest you most.

Nature and Views Around Ilfeld

The Bere Valley is a nature reserve with numerous rock formations and wooded areas, extending as far as Netzkater. From the Bielsteine and the site of the Ilfeld weather vane, you can enjoy views of Ilfeld, Niedersachswerfen and the Kohnstein, designated Landmark 7. The Poppenberg Tower is also nearby: it stands at the highest point of the ridge, is a steel lattice structure built in 1897, and was restored in 1994. The summit of the Poppenberg is about four kilometres on foot from Ilfeld.

Hiking Destinations and Forest Swimming Pool

In good weather, consider hiking to the rock formations Mönch, Nadelöhr and Gänseschnabel. Take weather conditions into account when planning these trips. Another destination is the Ilfeld Forest Swimming Pool: a hiking and cycling trail leads directly there from Schanzenbrücke, alongside the narrow-gauge railway. The pool water is heated using a solar system. The “Talbrauerei” stop on bus route 23 is a few minutes’ walk from the swimming pool. Check the latest bus route information before travelling and take local conditions along the way into account.

Local History Museum and the Town’s Past

The historic building housing the Ilfeld local history museum was built in 1712 for men and their wives who had left the service of the collegiate foundation. The museum explores how the town came into being, covering topics from the “Ewige Lampe” and the monastery to Neander’s famous Ilfeld Monastery School and the end of the NAPOLA in 1943. The focus is therefore on both the history of the building and a broad sweep of the town’s past.

Getting There and the Regional Setting

Ilfeld can be reached via the B4 and B81 federal highways and by the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway. Check the latest service information before travelling. When planning your journey, distinguish these connections to Ilfeld from the bus information for the area around the forest swimming pool: the “Talbrauerei” stop is on route 23 and is a few minutes’ walk from the pool.

In the wider Harztor travel destination, Neustadt/Harz has its own distinctive townscape: numerous half-timbered houses and St. George’s Church shape the town. Well-signposted cycling and hiking trails, as well as health trails, run around Neustadt/Harz. In the regional context, alongside Ilfeld’s Bere Valley and museum, the townscape and trails around Neustadt/Harz are distinct topics in their own right.

Discover more destinations: Windehausen, Werther, Hamma, Harztor, Heringen/Helme, Niedersachswerfen, Harzungen, Wolkramshausen

Back to the wider travel overview: Nordhausen.