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View of Josephskreuz – Beautiful half-timbered houses loop from Stolberg (Harz)

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View of Josephskreuz – Beautiful half-timbered houses loop from Stolberg (Harz)

Moderate

4.8

(422)

1,431

hikers

View of Josephskreuz – Beautiful half-timbered houses loop from Stolberg (Harz)

03:27

11.5km

350m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 6, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Pferdekopf

Biosphärenreservat Karstlandschaft Südharz

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

659 m

View of Stolberg from the Unterer Bandweg

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Nice trail off the beaten track with many viewpoints of the small town and its houses.

Translated by Google •

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1.48 km

View of Stolberg Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

A fine place to rest, the old oak tree and 2 benches including the panoramic view of the castle make the place something very special.

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5.81 km

Josephskreuz on the Great Auerberg

Highlight • Monument

The Joseph Cross is a must in the south-eastern Harz. It stands on Josephshöhe and is, so to speak, a piece of Paris in the Harz Mountains. The Joseph Cross is the largest iron double cross in the world, which was built based on the model of the Eiffel Tower in 1896. The 38 meter high steel framework is held together by around 100,000 rivets and weighs 125 tons. You can climb the observation tower for a fee.

The best way to get there is a short hike from the Auerberg car park. If you want to do a longer hike, it is best to start from Stolberg.

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6.15 km

View of Josephskreuz

Highlight • Viewpoint

The view of the country from here is beautiful, but unfortunately it costs money.

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10.1 km

View of Stolberg Castle through the old town's alleys

Highlight • Viewpoint

The streets with their beautiful half-timbered houses in Stolberg are simply beautiful. It is definitely worth a visit.

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10.2 km

Beautiful half-timbered houses

Highlight • Historical Site

Only in a few cities are the historical buildings so well preserved.

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10.3 km

Half-timbered houses on the market square, Stolberg

Highlight • Historical Site

You can see very beautiful half-timbered houses here.👀

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10.5 km

View of Stolberg and its castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

From an elevated position there is a very impressive view of Stolberg with the castle on the opposite side of the valley.

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11.5 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.20 km

3.26 km

1.08 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

6.18 km

3.38 km

1.36 km

329 m

294 m

Elevation

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Weather

Thursday 9 July

23°C

11°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Comments

September 21, 2024,Südharz 😊 Stolberg 😊 hoch zum Josephskreuz

it went continuously from Stolberg 😊

a double cross that is said to be unique in the world, 38 m high, held together by 100,000 rivets, standing on the 580 m high Auerberg

PS: you have to see the Eiffel Tower of the South Harz 😮

Showing Translation

October 24, 2024,Harz - Stolberg bis Josephskreuz

Long, very long uphill. 🥵

But good paths.

And the destination is absolutely worth it -
Josephskreuz, a huge double cross made of metal, the largest in the world as you can read here: gemeinde-suedharz.de/josephskreuz

The view is fantastic! 😀
And there's a beer at the summit too.

But it's always downhill back to the 🍦

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September 19, 2022,Zum Josephskreuz

Beautiful hike with only a moderate incline. Hiking trail no. 13 from Stolberg. The rain that kept coming in ☔️ didn't really hinder us. Great cross that really reminds you a bit of the Eiffel Tower - unfortunately closed on Mondays. Otherwise the ascent costs 4 EUR. And a cafe is also right next door.

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July 14, 2023,Wanderung um Stolberg mit Josephskreuz (HWN 215/216)

Wonderful tour from the "Waldbühne" car park, which leads around Stolberg and also to the Josephskreuz. ☝️😄 However, it should be noted that Stolberg is not only surrounded by mountains, but also extends into 4 valleys. Therefore, the effort of the tour lives from the constant uphill and downhill, which is rewarded by views of the city and castle from …

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March 2, 2025,Von Auerberg nach Stolberg und zurück (HWN 215 und 216)

Easy to walk, but also a bit strenuous. The climb up the Lutherbuche is not for the cold (slippery) season

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February 6, 2026,Stolberg-Lutherbuche-Josephskreuz ❄️🛷❄️

A beautiful winter hike with lots of fun in the snow. A highlight was renting sleds at Josephskreuz. And the Café Alt in Stolberg provided a wonderful end to the day with its delicious treats.

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September 30, 2023,Harz Stolberg Josephshöhe HWN 215 und Lutherbuche HWN 216🥾🌲🐝

A beautiful hike with 2 interesting stamps. Unfortunately we didn't see the road closure between Mägdefleck and the bend. It took us an hour to cover 800 meters. Always hoping that the next stack of trees will be the last. Therefore, please do not follow the tour like this.
The Joseph Cross was the total reward.

Showing Translation

February 6, 2026,Von Stolberg zum Josephskreuz über die Lutherbuche

A truly wonderful hike! First, we walked through the beautiful, half-timbered town center of Stolberg, then on to the Luther Beech. From there, we enjoyed a lovely view of Stolberg and its castle. We continued back through the town and then towards the Zechental valley, climbing up to the Auerberg mountain with its impressive Joseph Cross. Up there, the fog …

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View of Josephskreuz – Beautiful half-timbered houses loop from Stolberg (Harz)

View of Stolberg from the Unterer Bandweg

View of Stolberg Castle

Josephskreuz on the Great Auerberg

View of Josephskreuz

View of Stolberg Castle through the old town's alleys

Beautiful half-timbered houses

Half-timbered houses on the market square, Stolberg

View of Stolberg and its castle

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