The ''Roßtrappe'' is a

granite Granite () is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies undergro ...

crag in the

Harz mountains The Harz () is a highland area in northern Germany. It has the highest elevations for that region, and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The name ''Harz'' derives from the Middle High German ...

of central Germany. The ''Roßtrappe'' rises over the

Bode Gorge The Bode Gorge (german: Bodetal) is a long ravine that forms part of the Bode valley between Treseburg and Thale in the Harz Mountains of central Germany. The German term, ''Bodetal'' (literally "Bode Valley"), is also used in a wider sense to r ...

in the Harz. It may be reached from

Thale Thale () is a town in the Harz district in Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany. Located at the steep northeastern rim of the Harz mountain range, it is known for the scenic Bode Gorge stretching above the town centre. Geography The town is situated ...

by road, on foot or on via the Rosstrappe Chair Lift. On the rocks is a mountain hotel with an observation terrace as well as the upper station for the chair lift. Nearby is the ''Winzenburg'', a

refuge castle A refuge castleCreighton, Oliver (2015). ''Early European Castles''. Bloomsbury. or refuge fort (german: Fliehburg, also ''Fluchtburg'', ''Volksburg'', ''Bauernburg'' or ''Vryburg'') is a castle-like defensive location, usually surrounded by rampa ...

in area with a

rampart Rampart may refer to: * Rampart (fortification), a defensive wall or bank around a castle, fort or settlement Rampart may also refer to: * "O'er the Ramparts We Watched" is a key line from "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the ...

made of stone blocks and earth, which has been used since the

New Stone Age The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several parts ...

as a refuge for up to 100 people. In 1860 the Winzenburg Tower was built there; an

observation tower An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision to conduct long distance observations. Observation towers are usually at least tall and are made from stone, iron, an ...

which is now closed. Rosstrappe 3

From the Rosstrappe there is a view of the rocks on the '' Hexentanzplatz'', ("Witches Dance Floor") the ''Steinerne Kirche'' ("Stone Church"), the Bode Gorge, the Harz Foreland, the town of Thale and the highest peak in the Harz, the

Brocken The Brocken, also sometimes referred to as the Blocksberg, is the highest peak in the Harz mountain range and also the highest peak in Northern Germany; it is near Schierke in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt between the rivers Weser and Elbe. ...

. According to legend, a giant by the name of ''Bodo'' once followed the king’s beautiful daughter, ''Brunhilde'', whom he wanted to marry against her will. ''Brunhilde'' escaped on a white stallion (german: Ross), but was suddenly confronted by a deep ravine. Her horse leapt in one bound to the rocks on the other side, but her pursuer fell into the depths below. The impression of the horse’s hoof may still be seen today. The giant ''Bodo'' gave his name to the small river, the Bode. Scientists suspect that this imprint in the rock is the weathered remains of a Germanic altar basin. From the ''Roßtrappe'' visitors can climb down into the Bode Gorge on the

Schurre The Schurre (pronounced "shoorer") is a stone run in the Bode Gorge in the Lower Harz near Thale in Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt (german: Sachsen-Anhalt ; nds, Sassen-Anholt) is a state of Germany, bordering the states of Brandenburg, Sax ...

, a path laid in zigzags. The President’s Way (''Präsidentenweg''), about 4 km, is the recommended path to climb from the gorge to the rock outcrop. The Roßtrappe is no. 71 in the system of check points on the ''

Harzer Wandernadel The Harzer Wandernadel is a system of hiking awards in the Harz mountains in central Germany. The hiker (or mountain biker) can earn awards at different levels of challenge by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and stamping his or ...

'' walking trail network. Since the middle of the 19th century there has been a mountain hotel with the same name at the entrance to the ''Roßtrappe''.

Photographs

File:Rosstrappe Bodetal 1900.jpg, Hotel ''Roßtrappe'' around 1900 File:Rosstrappe.jpg, Hoofmark on the ''Roßtrappe'' File:Rosstrappe(1).jpg, ''Roßtrappe'' wishing well File:Bodetal2.jpg, View of the ''Roßtrappe'' from the ''Hexentanzplatz'' File:Sessellift Rosstrappe.jpg, Chair lift to the ''Roßtrappe'' File:Rosstrappemasiv.jpg, The ''Roßtrappe'' massif

External links

Legend of the ''Roßtrappe'' (German)

The legend of the ''Roßtrappe''. Text and illustrations (German)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosstrappe Rock formations of Saxony-Anhalt Rock formations of the Harz Thale Natural monuments in Saxony-Anhalt

Photographs

See also

External links