Schalke, Mountain summit in Lower Saxony, Germany
Schalke is a summit reaching 762 meters above sea level in the Upper Harz region, positioned north of Clausthal-Zellerfeld and west of Schulenberg. A paved forest path winds through the terrain toward a steel observation tower at the top.
The summit hosted a French military listening post from 1959 to 2002 during the Cold War era, which was later completely demolished. The steel observation tower was built as early as 1892 by Harzklub and ranks among the region's oldest structures of its kind.
The name Schalke refers to the mountain's shape and position within the Harz landscape. Visitors encounter a place that has long served as a waypoint for hikers and remains central to regional walking traditions.
The summit is accessible via a forest path with sections reaching up to a 12 percent grade, leading to a plateau before the tower area. A shelter hut near the top provides refuge for walkers and marks checkpoint 125 within the regional hiking trail system.
The observation tower offers views toward the east and south across the mountain landscape and is the oldest among four similar towers in the area. Its history stretches back before the Cold War period, making it a rare example of early regional infrastructure.
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