Plessenburg

The Plessenburg is a historic hunting lodge made up of several connected buildings situated at about 555 meters elevation within Harz National Park near Ilsenburg. Today it functions as a restaurant open to the public.

A count from the Stolberg-Wernigerode family built the lodge in 1775 and named it after a prince from the Anhalt-Köthen region. The building became a lasting symbol of the nobility's hunting traditions in the Harz mountains.

The lodge displays half-timber construction typical of the 1800s, with visible wooden beams and clay-filled walls that reflect how the Harz region built its structures. Visitors can observe these traditional building methods directly while walking around the property.

The restaurant operates during warmer months from May to September and has limited hours in the off-season from October through April. Plan your visit during these windows and arrive early if you prefer fewer crowds.

From 1973 to 1992, visitors gathered each evening at 5:00 PM to watch and feed the local deer population. This daily gathering attracted nature lovers from across the region before the practice ended.