The best waterfall hikes and walks around Thale

In some pictures, the Selke Valley Railway looks like something out of a miniature wonderland.

It covers an area of 2.1 km² and extends south of the village of Stiege, approximately 260 meters long and up to 220 meters wide. The Hassel stream forms the inlet and outlet of the pond, flowing into the pond at its southeastern tip and northeastward toward the Lower Pond. Source: Wikipedia

The unique Stiege Stave Church, once abandoned and subject to vandalism, was saved thanks to the commitment of the local community and an association founded in 2014 and successfully relocated to a new location in 2021. Further information and opening hours can be found here: https://www.stabkirche-stiege.de/startseite.html.

The Oberteich is an artificial pond, i.e. it was created as an energy supplier (water energy) for mining.

For information about the ski jump, see e.g. https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkenfelder_Schanze

The Selke Valley Railway is one of the Harz narrow-gauge railways. The Selke Valley Railway is the oldest narrow-gauge railway line in the Harz Mountains and was opened in 1887 after only 316 days of construction. Since 1984, the three Harz narrow-gauge lines (Selke Valley Railway, Harz Cross Railway, and Brocken Railway) have been reconnected to form a network – now 140 kilometers long. Quedlinburg has also been connected to the network since 2006. Amazingly, the Selke Valley Railway (and not the Brocken Railway) has the steepest sections! Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selketalbahn

According to one resident, the church was rebuilt 90% from its original state. You wouldn't notice it from the outside. It's a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

A well-maintained facility here you can also get the stamp Harzer Geschichtsorte "Castles & Palaces"