Torfhaus, Mountain village in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
Torfhaus is a settlement located at 800 meters elevation in the Upper Harz region, situated at the edge of an extensive moorland. From its hilltop position, the place offers views across surrounding slopes and serves as a key starting point for walks into Harz National Park.
The settlement began in the 16th century with peat digging, when people started systematically using the moorlands of the region. After severe damage during World War II, the place was rebuilt in 1949 and has since developed into a tourism destination.
The name comes from peat extraction, the activity that shaped both the land and the community itself. Visitors can still see traces of this heritage in the surrounding moorland, understanding how nature and human work were intertwined here.
The Visitor Center there provides exhibitions and trail information for exploring the surrounding area. It operates from May through October with free entry and helpful staff to guide you about what to see and where to walk.
The place has an illuminated sledding lift that operates on winter nights, giving access to a 300-meter downhill run. This nighttime sledding area is a rare attraction that draws visitors during the cold season.
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