Goethefelsen, Felsformation im Bodetal im Harz in Sachsen-Anhalt
The Goethefelsen, also called Siebenbrüderfelsen, is a tall granite rock formation in the Bodetal valley near Thale. The stone structure rises steeply above the left bank of the Bode river and is crossed by walking trails that run between Königsruhe and Thale.
Poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the rock in 1783 and 1784 during his travels through the Harz and studied the stones there. In 1949, the formation was officially named after the poet to honor his connection to the place.
The rock bears the name of poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose visits in the late 1700s shaped the region's identity. The various stone formations have occupied local imagination across generations and visitors today still identify familiar animal shapes and figures within them.
The rock is easily reached from the walking trail between Königsruhe and Thale and offers visitors unobstructed views of the Bodetal valley. The paths in the surrounding area are well marked and suited for hikers of different fitness levels.
The granite surfaces display natural shapes that visitors interpret as familiar animal figures: from sitting dogs and eagles to fighting pairs. These interpretations spark imagination and make each visit a personal discovery of different imagined forms.
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