Schierke

Schierke is a mountain village near the famous Brocken. It's been of interest to tourist since the Romantic Era when writers and artists flocked to the area. At the end of the century, a narrow gauge train line was built, connecting Wernigerode and Schierke, encouraging the expansion of the tourist presence and winter sports.

With the end of World War II and the creation of the DDR, access to the village was restricted, the rail line closed, and tourism ended. One could only access the area with special permission, and there were restrictions on residents, because it was so close to the Inner-German border, and even closer to the infamous spy-mountain, the Brocken. Some of the hotels and resorts were converted for use by the German Trade Union, Stasi members, and other government officials. A border police base was also established there.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, tourism increased, and the train line re-established.

Schierke is also known for the local liquor, Schierke Feuerstein, which was developed by a local apothecary in 1924. That's what we drove up to buy, for a friend who knows quite a bit about liquor-making. We got a small bottle for us. It was interesting. Apparently it's known for it's reddish-brown color, but we drank it out of the bottle and didn't notice.

There's a small war cemetery in the village, not something I could pass up.Leggi altro