Clausthal-Zellerfeld

Clausthal-Zellerfeld sits on a plateau in the southwestern Harz at roughly 1,850 feet (560 meters) elevation and includes the districts of Clausthal, Zellerfeld, and Buntenbock. Streets run between forested hills while residential areas and university buildings spread across several kilometers.

The municipality formed in 1924 through the merger of two mining towns that extracted silver and other ores since the 16th century. During the 1830s engineer Wilhelm Albert developed modern wire rope here for mining operations.

The name recalls two mining towns that stood side by side for centuries, each maintaining its own church and market square. Today students and locals share the pedestrian zone linking the former town centers, lined with cafés and small shops.

The town sits around 1,970 feet (600 meters) above sea level, so weather tends to be cooler and wetter than in surrounding lowlands. Walking routes between districts pass through forested terrain and can become slippery during snow or rain.

The Upper Harz Mining Museum displays tools, machines, and models from several centuries of mining across four floors. Visitors can enter the old Kaiser Wilhelm II and Ottiliae shafts where lead and zinc were once extracted.