Thale combines a historic site in the old town with themed trails, hikes and culture at the Hexentanzplatz. If you are looking for a hotel in Thale, your travel plans can help determine where to stay: the town’s history and culture offer a different focus from hiking or mountain biking descents. The places and activities below provide practical guidance.
Between the Old Town and Hiking Trails
Wendhusen Monastery was founded in Wendhusen in 825, in what is now Thale’s old town. The Thale Myths Trail is a themed walking route from the exit of the Bode Gorge to the old town. It features thirteen sculptures created by various artists. This brings together an art theme and two clearly defined reference points: the exit of the Bode Gorge and the old town.
The Devil’s Wall themed hiking trail offers a different focus: it runs through Thale and passes all the distinctive rock formations of the Devil’s Wall. Thale is also a starting point for hikes into the Bode Gorge and the starting point of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg trail. Comparing the routes reveals different points of interest: sculptures and the old town on the Myths Trail, the rock formations of the Devil’s Wall on the themed hiking trail, and hikes into the Bode Gorge and the start of the Harzer-Hexen-Stieg in Thale.
Culture and Activities at the Hexentanzplatz
The Harz Mountain Theatre is an open-air theatre at the Hexentanzplatz. Its programme features mystical stories, legendary fairy tales, operettas, musicals, plays and concerts. The programme changes seasonally, so check the current schedule in advance if you want to attend during your stay. The Thale DDR Museum offers a cultural and historical perspective on another subject, focusing on domestic and everyday life in the GDR.
The Thale Cable Cars Adventure World connects two different destinations by separate cable cars: the chairlift takes you to the Rosstrappe rock massif, while the gondola lift takes you up to the Hexentanzplatz. Timetables vary by season and should be checked before your trip. This lets you choose based on your destination, rather than on an assumed journey time or a fixed daily schedule.
For mountain biking descents, Thale has the Bodetal Bike Park. The descents run from the Rosstrappe into the Bode Gorge, with riders tackling rough terrain at high speed and performing jumps. This is a distinct activity alongside the themed hiking trails and cultural programme.
Thale in the Wider Harz Region
The Harz offers a broader setting for planning your trip beyond Thale. Harz National Park has 560 kilometres of signposted trails leading to particularly scenic viewpoints, as well as eight visitor centres and national park houses. They provide information about the park, hiking tips, exhibitions and film screenings. The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg runs through Harz National Park and the Brocken Moor; Thale is its starting point. This places both the starting point in Thale and the trail’s other landscape features in the context of the wider Harz region.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Allrode, Altenbrak, Friedrichsbrunn, Neinstedt, Westerhausen, Treseburg, Weddersleben, Stecklenberg
Back to the main travel guide: Harz.
