Heinrichshöhe

The Heinrichshöhe is a subsidiary peak in the Harz Mountains, standing 1,040 metres above sea level. It lies within the Harz National Park, about 3.2 kilometres north-northwest of Schierke. The summit is 1.4 kilometres southeast of the Brocken’s top and rises 205 metres above the nearby Brocken Road. Near the peak, on its southern slope, stands the Brockentor tor at 1,039.5 metres. The mountain was named after Count Henry Ernest of Stolberg-Wernigerode, who established a peatworks there in 1747. The Heinrichshöhe has historical importance as the route of the oldest documented track to the Brocken, first recorded in 1591. This path, now called the Heinrichshöhenweg, once ran parallel to the present-day Brocken Road before heading straight to the Brocken summit. A Ski monument was erected near the track during the First World War, marking spot number 19 in the Harzer Wandernadel hiking system. At the summit, a five-metre-high granite tor bears a 1936 inscription by the Brockenschutz. The name Brockentor dates to the 18th century, when the first Brocken inn was built beside it. Visitors today find a quiet, elevated spot in the national park, with the Brockentor tor as a notable landmark. The Heinrichshöhenweg offers a historic walking route through dense woodland and open moorland. The surrounding landscape includes the remnants of the old peatworks and the memorial to skiers from the First World War. The summit provides views across the Harz peaks, though access is restricted and requires permission. The area remains a place of historical interest rather than a busy tourist destination.