Elfenstein

The Elfenstein is a hill spur, about 475 m above sea level (NN),[1] in the northern foothills of the Harz Mountains of central Germany and the site of the eponymous granite rock formation above the town of Bad Harzburg. It is located in the unincorporated area of Harz in the county of Goslar in the state of Lower Saxony.

Elfenstein
Highest point
Elevation475 m above sea level (NN) (1,558 ft)
Coordinates51°52′45″N 10°31′38″E 
Geography
Parent rangeHarz Mountains (Upper Harz)

Location

The Elfenstein lies in the Upper Harz within the Harz Nature Park. It rises west of the town of Bad Harzburg and southwest of the village of Bündheim between the valley of the Gläsecke to the west and that of the Bleiche to the east.

Description and history

On the hill is the granite rock formation also known as the Elfenstein (ca. 420 m above NN[2]), which was first mentioned in the records in 1578[3] as Elwenstein. In the Middle Ages the rocks were seen as a dwelling place for[4] elves and similar creatures.

Excavations in the area indicate that it has been settled in the Bronze Age. On the northeastern slope of the wooded hill, near the way between the Bleichebach and the old Silberborn, in 1857[3] an old Germanic dwelling and gravesite were discovered.

Views and walks

The Elfenstein rocks, which may be climbed by means of steps, are no. 120[2] in the system of checkpoints in the Harzer Wandernadel hiking network. From the top there are views of Bad Harzburg and the northern Harz Foreland.

References
  1. Topographic map Elfenstein, at natur-erleben.niedersachsen.de
  2. Harzer Wandernadel: Checkpoint 120 – Elfenstein Archived 2012-11-05 at the Wayback Machine at harzer-wandernadel.de
  3. Elfenstein, at woick-wandern.de
  4. Elfenstein bei Bad Harzburg, at ausflugsziele-harz.de
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