Großvaterfelsen

The Großvaterfelsen in the Harz mountains - also known simply as Grandfather - is a striking cliff made of sandstone above Blankenburg in the Harz mountains. It offers a very beautiful view and marks the western border of the Harz Devil's Wall, which runs in the northern foothills of the Harz between Blankenburg and Ballenstedt. Stamp 76 of the Harzer Wandernadel is located below the rock. Prominent rocks nearby are the Königstein, the Papenstein, the Mittelsteine, the Gegensteine and the Hamburg Wappen. Not far from the Großvaterfelsen is the Großmutter.

Grandfather Rock in the Harz Mountains: View of Blankenburg

The mountain is 317 m high and thus a landmark of the town of Blankenburg, over which it offers a beautiful view. It is therefore very popular with hikers. It can be climbed over rocky steps, for which surefootedness and some skill are definitely required. Sometimes the ascent is quite steep. At the top there is a magnificent view of Blankenburg and the Great Castle as well as the Harz foreland.

It is not known where the name Großvaterfelsen (Grandfather Rock) comes from. Some historians assume that the ancient Germanic tribes held ritual festivals on this site. Perhaps they paid homage here to their father of the gods, Odin (Wotan), with the divine father later becoming the grandfather. Perhaps it is only the shape of the rock, which with a little imagination makes one think of an old bent man, that led to this name. However, it cannot be ruled out that there was once a Germanic place of worship at this site.

Start of a hike from the Grandfather Rock

The Großvater with the Löbbeckestieg and stamp post 76 is a suitable start to hike to the Harzer Teufelsmauerstieg and later along it. Specifically, it is the first section, the Löbbeckestieg or Kammweg. It is quite rustic and leads over rocks and roots, with the landscape showing bizarre and surprising rock formations again and again. A little caution and fitness is required, as the relatively narrow path requires surefootedness. But it rewards hikers with impressive views. It is well known where the Löbbeckestieg and the Löbbeckefelsen got their names. It was named after Carl Löbbecke (1809 - 1869). Born in Braunschweig, he was a banker with his own banking house and a politician. Between 1850 and 1859 he was the mayor of Blankenburg in the Harz Mountains and did his best to promote tourism.

Among other things, he had the popular Kammweg trail built in 1853, for which hikers have thanked him ever since. If you are looking for a somewhat easier tour from the Großvaterfelsen, choose the Südhangweg, which leads more leisurely over the Heidelberg to the Heidelbergwarte, the Gewittergrotte, the Fuchsbau and the Hamburger Wappen. However, the connection to the Heidelbergwarte is not signposted from the Südhangweg.
If you want to find the stamp station 76 at the Großvaterfelsen, the quickest way is to hike from the Schnappelberg (Kleines Schloss) over the B81. After a rock staircase, a path leads up to the Großvaterfelsen. From stamp post 76, a few metres lead up to the Großvaterfelsen.