Fire, Plague and War: A Self-Guided Wernigerode Tour

Wernigerode is one of Germany's best-preserved medieval towns, tucked into the northern Harz Mountains. On this self-guided walking tour, you'll explore cobblestone streets lined with timber-framed houses dating back to the 1400s. You'll hear how the town survived fires, plagues, witch trials, and World War II, and why a local commander was shot for saving it. Starting at a restaurant whose oldest sections date to 1567, you'll wind through Market Square, squeeze through Humility Alley, and pass the smallest house in Wernigerode — once home to two adults, seven children, and a subtenant. Along the way, discover the Crooked House leaning at double the angle of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and hear how Oberst Gustav Petri surrendered the city in 1945 to save civilian lives — and was executed the next day. The tour ends at Wernigerode Castle, 170 metres above the town, with panoramic views over the Harz.