Nestled at the base of the Harz Mountains, Ilsenburg is a historic town in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. In the 10th century, a castle was built here by King Henry I and was later converted into a monastery. It flourished as a religious institution until the 1525 uprisings of the German Peasants’ War.
Things to do in Ilsenburg
On the southern edge of town is Schloss Ilsenburg, a centuries-old castle that took on its current appearance in the late 19th century. It lies adjacent to a Romanesque-style monastery established by a group of Benedictine monks and is now a stop on the Romanesque Road. Together, the properties function as an arts and cultural centre and lie alongside a riverside walking trail.
Ilsenburg makes a good base for visiting the Ilse Wasserfälle, a series of cascades that tumble along the Ilse River. They are best explored along the Heinrich Heine hiking trail, which is named after the German poet who explored the area in 1824. Heine penned his thoughts in one of his most famous works, “Harz Journey”, and a monument along the trail commemorates his links to the area.
A short drive south-east of Ilsenburg is the Evangelical Centre Monastery Drübeck, a former Benedictine nunnery that has been transformed into a conference venue. It encompasses a twin-spired church dedicated to St. Vitus and the House of Silence and a beautiful garden with a 300-year-old lime tree. Coffee and cake are served at the on-site cafe.
Getting around Ilsenburg
Ilsenburg is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Hanover and Hanover Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains connect to the Ilsenburg railway station and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.