Magic May Day in Germany: Famous ‘Walpurgis Night’ 🧙🏼‍♀️ bonfire party on Mt. Brocken

The witches like to party, and you’re invited! Come celebrate the exciting Night of the Witches (Walpurgisnacht) with an exciting Saturday filled with creative costumes, medieval markets, live music, laser show and a huge customary bonfire believed to ward off evil spirits! And because we love hiking, we’ll follow it up with a beautiful Labour Day hike to the highest peak of Northern Germany - Mount Brocken. Ancient towns, half timbered houses and a historic steam railway journey will complete our Brothers Grimm fairytale weekend. During this trip, we will be staying in the quaint town of Wernigerode, affectionately also known as the Pearl of the Harz. A visit to this stunning medieval town with a splendid hilltop castle looking down at street after street of timber-framed houses and steam engines chugging up and down the mountains will fill you with nostalgia. Starting on Saturday morning, we take a train down to Wernigerode that we will be exploring in the afternoon and then head to Schierke in the evening (optional: in our costumes) to check out the medieval markets & Walpurgis Night celebrations. The following day, we hike to the summit of Brocken, which is often shrouded in mist, which contributes to its mysterious charm. Optical illusions such as the “Brocken Ghost“ may give you a scare, but don’t worry, it’s probably just your shadow cast upon the fog… or is it? After all, this was the favourite haunt (pun intended) of the witches of yore. Once at the summit, we capture the stunning sights of Harz National Park and grab a bite/drink before catching the iconic Harz steam railway back to Wernigerode, pick up our bags and then catch the train back to Berlin on Sunday. Highlights of the two-day trip include: 1. Medieval Market in Schierke: Once every year the Walpurgis invites you to the great hustle and bustle of witches and devils. Numerous craftsmen, traders and taverns present themselves at the traditional medieval adventure market. Linger in the rustic atmosphere and enjoy the daily sounds of well-known bands from the medieval and folk scene, who present themselves on several stages. 2. Walpurgis Night Celebrations: Once a year Walpurgis Bon-fire is lit at nightfall along with an amazing laser lights show marking the beginning of Walpurgis Night. Walpurgis Night ends at midnight sharp, as according to legend, the witches fly to the Brocken on their broomsticks. 3. Discover Wernigerode: Stunning medieval town with splendid medieval Wernigerode hilltop castle (impressively reconstructed in the 19th century) overlooking down streets filled with timber-framed houses. 4. Brocken: Standing at 1141 meters above sea level making it the highest mountain in Northern Germany. 5. Harz Steam Railway: The sound of the engine's whistle, smoke drifting past the window and the smell of a real steam train evoke memories of a bygone age. Settle back, relax in the comfortable historic carriages and enjoy train travel as it should be done. 6. Brockengarten: Botanical garden on the forest-free hilltop of the Brocken that has existed since 1890 and is now home to around 1500 plant species from all of the world's high mountains. 7. Teufelskanzel & Hexenaltar: Believed to be the meeting point for witches and the devil on Walpurgis night. The trip fee includes - Shared Accommodation in a 4-star hotel for one night with breakfast included - Return train tickets to Berlin - Ticket to Walpurgis Night celebration on Saturday in Schierke village - Ride in the historic Harz steam railways. All group expenses will be managed using Splitwise, so please have the Splitwise app downloaded prior to your trip to make it easy to track & settle any group related expenses incurred during the trip. A bit about me, Maddy here, I am a Kiwi Indian living presently in Berlin having moved here in May last year with my partner from Sydney. Having lived in 5 countries & travelled to just under 40 countries covering 4 continents featuring numerous solo trips and creating new friendships along the way, I can say with a lot of assurance, you are going to have a great time on my trips. On my trips, I am looking to mix up Urban exploring with Nature hikes & trails to give a more complete travel experience.