We have already introduced you to some wonderful excursion destinations around Berlin for the fall – from the 700-metre-long treetop path with its unique panoramic views to the only Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Germany. This time of year shows its best side with its beautiful natural splendor. But now it’s not just autumn, Halloween is also just around the corner. While you can discover mystical locations, lost places and mysterious places with a pinch of spookiness in the city, real horror experiences await outside Berlin – in the best sense of the word, of course. Just two hours away you will find the legendary “Devil’s Bridge”, according to legend built by the devil himself. One place that will really get you in the mood for Halloween is the “witch town” of Wernigerode in Saxony-Anhalt – the European twin of the ultimate witch town of Salem (Massachusetts).
Wernigerode and its background as a “witch town”
On the northern edge of the Harz Mountains lies this mystical town, which is linked to the region’s world of legends like no other. Although Wernigerode does not officially bear the nickname “witch town”, it is considered the “magical gateway” and center of the legendary Harz Mountains – the cradle of German witch myths. The stories about witches and sorcery in the Harz go back to the Middle Ages. The nearby Brocken (also known as Blocksberg) was popularly believed to be a meeting place for witches, especially on Walpurgis Night on April 30th. Even Goethe and Heine picked up on this myth in their literature:
“The witches go to the Brocken,
the stubble flies as if there.”
(Goethe, Faust I, “Walpurgis Night”)
Wernigerode is only around 12 km from the Brocken and benefited from its proximity to this mythical place for centuries. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, witch trials took place here, as in many German-speaking towns. Women (and some men) were accused of being in league with the devil; torture, forced confessions and gruesome executions were the result. Today, Wernigerode is no longer a “witch town” in the dark sense, but a place of living memory and symbolism. Here, the figure of the witch no longer stands for evil, but for wisdom, closeness to nature and the strength of women who stand up to oppression.
The annual Walpurgis Night
Traditions are kept alive here – which is why Walpurgis Night takes place every year on April 30. In Wernigerode and the district of Schierke at the foot of the Brocken, the town is transformed into a magical spectacle: witches’ processions through the old town, fire, music, dancing, imaginative costumes and performances by “witches”, “devils” and “wizards”. During the day, there are medieval markets and family-friendly events. The custom is rooted in ancient myths, but is now celebrated as a joyful spring festival.
A trip to Halloween
If you visit Wernigerode on Halloween, you can follow in the footsteps of the witches yourself. The Harz Museum Wernigerode (Klint 10) has exhibitions on witchcraft, natural mythology and popular beliefs. The impressive Wernigerode Castle, which is often shrouded in mysterious fog in autumn, also invites you to take part in guided tours that bring myths and legends to life. In the old town, you will discover lovingly designed witch figures on numerous fountains, statues and signs – friendly instead of scary. The Brocken Railway takes you directly from Wernigerode to the legendary Blocksberg. And in the Walpurgis Hall in Schierke, a small but exciting exhibition on Walpurgis Night, witchcraft symbolism and ancient rites awaits you.