Some places give the impression that bygone centuries had passed them by without leaving a trace. Stolberg, a medieval-style town of half-timbered houses in the southern Harz mountains, is one of them. Perhaps because Stolberg is hidden away in four narrow valleys of this low mountain range; or perhaps its inhabitants were simply lucky and the storms of political and economic upheaval never got as far as them.
The town is rightly referred to as the "pearl of the southern Harz", consisting as it does entirely of half-timbered houses, over 500 in total, with a handsome renaissance castle rising above them. Stolberg owes its buildings' excellent state of preservation to its inhabitants, who have looked after their home town over the years with enormous care and devotion.
And the surrounding countryside is also worth visiting. High atop the mountain Auerberg stands the "Cross of St. Joseph", a gigantic iron structure held together by 100,000 rivets. The cross is a symbol of peace, first made of logs of oakwood, but then rebuilt using iron after the original cross was destroyed by lightning.
Tourist Information Stolberg
Markt 2
06547 Stolberg (Harz)
+49 (0) 34654-454
+49 (0) 34654-729
Additional sources of information:
Museum "Altes Borgerhaus"
Rittergasse 14
06547 Stolberg
+49 (0) 34654-85955
Bernhard Langer
Topfergasse 1
06547 Stolberg
+49 (0) 34654-278
Hotel "Zum Kanzler"
Markt 8
06547 Stolberg
+49 (0) 34654-454