//
Place in Lower Saxony, Germany
Photo: User:Netnet, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Clausthal-Zellerfeld is a town in the Upper Harz in Lower Saxony. It is the largest town of the Oberharz community and is at an altitude of 535 m ASL. It is great for winter activities, and for walking and mountain biking during the rest of the year. Clausthal has a well-known university, Aula Academica. The town has a picturesque low mountain range landscape with crystal clear waters in more than 60 ponds and flowering meadows.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Oberharzer Bergwerksmuseum
The Upper Harz Mining Museum in the Zellerfeld district is one of the oldest museums in Germany dedicated to the history of engineering. You can go back in time and discover the development of ore mining in the Harz, the hard working conditions and the ingenuity of the miners in various exhibitions and you can look at the original mining installations outdoors. One of the highlights is the famous man engine, an adventurous but effective method to get quickly into great depths.
Geosammlung der Technischen Universität Clausthal
The collections of the Technical University are among the largest in Germany.
Oberharzer Wasserregal
This is a system of dams, reservoirs, ditches and other structures, much of which was built from the 16th to 19th centuries to divert and store the water that drove the water wheels of the mines in the Upper Harz. The word Regale stands for the granting of royal privileges or rights in this case to permit the use of water for mining operations in the Harz Mountains. The Upper Harz Water Regale is one of the largest and most important historic mining water management systems in the world. In the system of the Upper Harz Water Regale there are over 35 such tunnels with a total length of about 30 km. It has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage since 1992.
Marktkirche zum Heiligen Geist
The original church was destroyed in the great fire in 1634. It was decided to replace it with a wooden church, which was completed in 1642. It is now the largest wooden church in Germany and can seat up to 2200 people. Inside there's a massive organ and a great altar.
Lutheran church with an altar painting by Werner Tübke.
Imposing building from 1673.
Former post office of the town of Zellerfeld. It has a carillon.
Government building from 1734, used for different purposes throughout history, and now a courthouse.
Bergapotheke
The house with 64 faces has served as a pharmacy for a long time. Inside you can see historical pharmacy furniture.
Adminstrative centre for mining activities in Upper Harz and northern Germany. Their archives are extensive and worth seeing.
Main mining pit for the Clausthal area. Remarkable headframe that is one of the oldest in Europe. Two scenes from the 2014 movie The Monuments Men were shot here.
Germany's second oldest preserved iron headframe. The shaft had a depth of 1000 m.
This buildings was donated by the alumni of the mining academy in the 1920s and has served as an event venue ever since. The "Jugend Forscht" (lit. "Youth is researching" event) takes place here yearly.
Friedrich-Adolph Roemer was the founder of present-day TU Clausthal.
mining museum
In one of the oldest and longest-used mines in the area, you can walk down stairs to the bottom of the mine.
The Kaiser Wilhelm pit is the starting point for exploring the Oberharzer Wasserregal. From here there are guided tours to historical mining facilities above and below ground.
A tiny ski resort with just one ski lift with only 50 m (164 feet) of vertical descent, and some cross-country skiing tracks. 300 m (1000 ft) of pistes.
Hallenbad Swimming Pool
Indoor swimming pool, with sauna, solarium and bikini bar.
There is a large network of hiking trails (Harz Club) which is very well signposted. Nordic walking routes are also well signposted. For the more adventurous you can walk from Clausthal Zellerfeld to Goslar. This is a 16.36-km hike in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. The hike has a total ascent of 198 m and has a maximum elevation of 764 m.
The Volksbank Arena sponsors a huge network of signposted routes for mountain bikers in three difficulty levels (62 routes, 1,800-km circuit). Seven MTB circular routes start directly at the tourist information in Zellerfeld (Berger Str. 31).
Pizza parlour, check website for special offers.
Located in a sunny clearing in the forest, they cook locally sourced cuisine.
The restaurant prides itself on good customer service combined with good, well presented food of high quality, they offer children's menus and a wide variety of dishes; check the website for the menu.
Many specialities and various steaks available.
They have a range of good fresh food on offer, including many streaks and traditional German cuisine. Parties can be catered for on request.
former Landhaus Kemper
Traditional specialities to the Hotel such as Saffron pasta with Möhrenpesto and goat's cheese in lemon marinade, Harz red Höhenvieh with Quince, Chestnut mousse with, Bratapfel sauce and a selection of fine wines.
This cellar club is run by students and often has special events taking place. It has a cocktail menu.
The site is in the middle of the Harz Mountains near Clausthal-Zellerfeld at an altitude of 600 m. The camp site is surrounded by forests and lakes. There is a restaurant and shop on site. The Reception staff speak English, German and Polish.
Chalet apartment with terrace. Free Wi-Fi. Barbecue area. There is also a free infra-red sauna. Set in the Harz National Park but a 3-minute drive to the shopping centre.
3-star hotel, free Wi-Fi and parking. Children under 6 stay free. All rooms have a TV with satellite channels and work desk. Pets are allowed.
A quaint, renovated half-timbered house dating back to the 18th century in the centre of Clausthal-Zellerfeld. Quiet romantic courtyard. 2 double rooms available. Also available the Hayloft with a steam sauna in the bathroom and the Stable with a whirlpool bath.
This 4-star hotel has a long history and was first opened in 1690. It has a central location close to many of the tourist sights. It offers a good restaurant with various specialities on the menu.
Clothing and gifts
Shoe shop
Confectionary and gifts
Variety of clothing and gifts.
Low cost supermarket chain. Other shops are also inside the complex.
Butcher's shop which sells specialities, e.g. venison.
Butcher.
By car
Clausthal-Zellerfeld is in the middle of the Harz, and the roads leading to the town have breathtaking views.
By train
The nearest railway station is in the District of Goslar, some 20 km away. From there you can catch a bus, which run frequently.
By bus
Clausthal-Zellerfeld has a major bus station. From there you can catch buses to many other towns within the Harz and the surrounding area. There are good links from Goslar and other local towns.
By bus
The bus station is found between the districts of Clausthal and Zellerfeld, next to the municipal library.
By taxi
There are taxi ranks at the Kronplatz and the Bornhardstraße in Zellerfeld in Clausthal-Zellerfeld.
By bike
There are many bike routes around Clausthall Zellerfeld.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Calden · International · KSF
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Clausthal-Zellerfeld and Germany.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsPlan your trip with our Oktoberfest 2027 guide. Learn how to reserve beer tent tables, understand Munich hotel booking windows, and budget daily costs.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best castle and gothic hotel stays in Europe. Discover historic fortresses, medieval estates, luxury châteaux, and Spanish parador hotels.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.