Herzberg am Harz, Medieval castle on hillside in Göttingen district, Germany
Herzberg am Harz is a town in Göttingen district, Lower Saxony, located at about 240 meters elevation along the Sieber river on the southwestern edge of the Harz mountains. The settlement spreads through a valley with the river running through it and a castle perched on the hillside above.
The castle was first documented in 1143, though it began as a hunting lodge under King Lothair II between 1024 and 1029. Over the centuries the location changed hands multiple times before the Saxon Welf dynasty took control, and the town later developed into a craft and manufacturing center during industrial times.
The town received the designation of Esperanto city in 2006 and hosts the Interkultura Centro Herzberg, dedicated to teaching this international language. This designation shapes how locals and visitors understand the place as a center for language learning and cross-cultural connection.
The town is easily reached with direct connections to larger cities like Göttingen and Hannover by regional train and bus services. Most of what there is to see can be explored on foot, and getting around by bicycle also works well since attractions are close together.
The town was historically known for cloth production, metalworking, and making specialized farm equipment, shaping its identity as a craft center. Those manufacturing traditions remain visible today in the old town buildings and street layouts.
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