Holiday Magazine 2023

Time to stay 4 5 … FOR

Time to stay 4 5 … FOR INQUISITIVES Zeit zu bleiben … FÜR STADTGESCHICHTEN The tastes of Harz FAVOURITE PRODUCTS FROM THE REGION Italy has its Pizza, Austria its Kaiserschmarrn and France its Coq au vin. But how does the Harz taste? Rather good and authentic as we feel. With the regional brand “Typisch Harz” more than 500 products or services have obtained a quality seal and thus strengthen the awareness of fine dining in the Harz. First efforts to establish a regional brand go back to the beginning of the 90s. Since 2011, the Harz Tourism Association (HTV) pushes the idea with a more strategic and comprehensive concept and can be pleased about a growing “Harz family”. Meanwhile this includes restaurants, master brewers, charcoal burners, confectioners, creative craftsmen, bakers, butchers or fruit farmers. And all this is to be protected to ensure that following generations can also enjoy culinary experience. So the regional brand shall not only popularize the Harz products (also nationwide), but also support the traditional handicraft or secure old production methods and recipes. Numerous companies or products with the label “typical Harz” already exist for centuries. Since 1749 pyramid cake is baked in Wernigerode for example, and the art of butchery and sausage making can be traced back to the Wernigerode family Leiste until the year * * * * * * REGIONAL-TIPS HASSERÖDER BREWERY HALBERSTÄDTER SAUSAGES & COLD MEAT QUEDLINBURGER MUSTARD MANUFACTURE BLANKENBURGER WIESENQUELL (MINERAL WATERS) HARZER BAUMKUCHEN HARZER ROLLER (CHEESE) Harzer Baumkuchen café The dough is applied layer by layer ©HarzerBaumkuchen 1760. To be registered in the community “typical Harz” you have to apply. The products should originate from the Harz, have a certain tradition and be produced sustainably. Generally the principle “quality rather than quantity“ should be followed - consumers should taste that. When looking for a typical and authentic souvenir from the Harz you will quickly find this label as orientation. The products are obtainable on the Wernigerode weekly market and in the tourist info. SCHIERKER FEUERSTEIN Nowadays, when there is still a demand for products or brands 100 years after their invention, something special must be connected with them. Or as in the case of Schierker Feuerstein it tastes extremely good. The herb liqueur was invented by the pharmacist Willy Drube in 1908, who only wanted to mix something against stomachache for holidaymakers. This mixture was such a success that he applied for a patent in 1924. Since then the recipe for this Harz spirit is passed on unchanged from generation to generation. Several million liters are produced annually and distributed all over the world. BROCKENSPLITTER They are a popular souvenir from the Harz and are regarded as an East German speciality. The Brockensplitter, sweet triangles made of hazelnut brittle coated with fine bitter chocolate, are also popular nationwide meanwhile. Its characteristic form shall be an allusion to the symbol of the Harz. Inventor of the sweet delight with the original name “Harzer Sahne Granit Splitter” once was the company Maul’s Kakao und Schokoladenfabrik, which was founded in Wernigerode in 1921. Later on the chocolate manufacture Argenta, also based in Wernigerode, secured the recipe. Today the confectionary is produced by the Wernigerode chocolate factory “Wergona”. ©Polyluchs Kreativagentur A piece of Harz tradition Searching for typical German traditions we quickly stumble on things like Christmas, carnival or Oktoberfest. Is there anything which is “typical Schierke”? Inextricably linked with the Harz surely are the traditional Walpurgis celebrations. Also in Schierke the normally placid spa park mutates into a witches’ caldron. With mystic strains and eerily wonderful costumes it´s not difficult to imagine what may have happened in the Middle Ages. According to the tradition the witches met in the night from April 30 th to May 1 st on the “Blocksberg”, the Brocken, to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. According to the saga the witches got the ability to fly from a special herb ointment. This obviously had an intoxicant effect, so that the rub generated a feeling of flying. The production of such ointment was regarded from the Middle Ages on as witchcraft - the saga of the ©Brockenbauer ©Brockenbauer Red Harz mountain cattle witches and devils arose. And so the feast of the dark powers is celebrated in the Harz until today and attracts thousands of visitors. Another traditional highlight in Schierke is the cow ball. Here the red Harz mountain cattle play the leading part. The well tempered cows, full of character, are an old German breed of domestic animals, which were preferred especially by small farmers in low mountain ranges. Until the 60s these cattle Again and again a big event: the Walpurgis Festival on April 30 th were at home in each village in the Harz. They were regarded as so called triple benefit. They produced meat and milk and could also be used for the field work. They were satisfied with the meager fodder in the Upper Harz. However, the breed was not suited as high performance cows - also crossbreeds could not increase the milk and meat performance. The Schierke Cow Ball, which is celebrated here for nearly 30 years, recalls the tradition of the cattle drive. In former times the cattle drive heralded spring, nowadays the Cow Ball is celebrated at the end of summer, on the last Saturday in September. The Harz-typical homeland festival with pageant, different folklore performances and a colourful entertainment program is a highlight for locals and guests every year. The genuine Red Harz Mountain cattle still has its home here and can of course be looked at up close on the surrounding mountain meadows. The animals belong to the Brockenbauer Thielecke. The bio-farmer is committed to the breeding and keeping of this cattle breed which is threatened by extinction. In his farm shop and steakhouse you can taste and buy Harz delicacies. CONTACT: Brockenbauer Thielecke in Tanne brockenbauer.de