Harzer Wandernadel – Ruine Ebers Castle

Harzer Wandernadel – Ruine Ebers Castle

Another weekend, another stamp and another ruin castle.

Again in our quest to each 50 hiking stamps this year before the colder weather sets in, we hiked this weekend to the ruin castle Ebers near the city of Nordhausen. This castle was originally built in 1180 – 1191 for the Thuringia landowner Hermann I (Hermann of Thuringia). It became an outpost and was used by various counts over the centuries. The last family to live in the castle died in 1582.

The hike itself was pleasant and apart from the fact that we took the wrong trail and walked up the wrong hill it was a nice day out. We had enough energy left to continue on to another stamp (Stamp 198 – Glockenstein) some 5 kilometers away. The walk was through beautiful rolling countryside. It reminded me that although most people head straight to the Upper Harz and the National Park, there is a lot of unspoilt beauty to discover in the Harz foothills. 

Harzer Wandernadel – Achtermannshöhe

Harzer Wandernadel – Achtermannshöhe

Today my younger son and I went out into the Harz National Park to collect two more stamps for the Harzer Wandernadel. We are trying to collect 50 stamps this year to achieve the Harzer Wander King badge. For more details about the Harzer Wandernadel please look at earlier blogs.

The walk up to Achtermannshöhe was actually really nice but very windy. The Achtermannshöhe is a rocky peak some 925 meters above sea level. The summit is well above the treetops so provides good views across the Upper Harz. Directly opposite are the Brocken and the Wurmberg Braunlage.

After a short rest we took off for a small walk through the National Park before heading to collect one more stamp. The images below are from the trail we took across the National Park.

Hannah’s first day at school

The last few weeks have been busy with the school holidays and more important preparing for my daughters first day at school. We moved to Germany a few years ago and my older children did not have the opportunity to experience this traditional start to a young person’s education.  

Dating back more than 200 years, the tradition of the Shultuten or “school cone” is one of the most celebrated and long-standing traditions in Germany.  The custom dates back to 1810 when parents in the Eastern part of Germany gave their children little sweets and gifts at the beginning of their school year. 

The tradition grew, as did the size of the Schultüte, and today parents, grandparents will go to great lengths to make the ‘First Day’ of school as memorable as possible. A very different way to how I remember my first day in school in the UK; (clinging onto the school gates as my mother desperately tried to drag me into school). 

A German child's very first day of school, known as Einschulung in German, is a landmark in their lives, and honoured throughout Germany as a special occasion.   

After a formal introduction to their teacher and future classroom they are returned to their parents were they are presented with their cones.

I think the pictures say it all :)