Schierke

Schierke
Stadtteil of Wernigerode
Town hall
Coat of arms
Schierke
Location of Schierke in Harz district prior to its merger into Wernigerode
Coordinates: 51°45′50″N 10°39′53″E / 51.76389°N 10.66472°E / 51.76389; 10.66472Coordinates: 51°45′50″N 10°39′53″E / 51.76389°N 10.66472°E / 51.76389; 10.66472
Country	Germany
State	Saxony-Anhalt
District	Harz
Town	Wernigerode
Area
• Total	40.13 km2 (15.49 sq mi)
Population (2006-12-31)
• Total	721
• Density	18/km2 (47/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	38879
Dialling codes	039455
Vehicle registration	HZ
Website	www.schierke-am-brocken.de

Schierke is a village and a former municipality in the Harz district, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2009, it is part of the town Wernigerode.

Schierke was first mentioned as Schiriken in a 1590 deed. Situated within the Harz mountain range in the valley of the Bode River, at the rim of the Harz National Park, it is mainly a tourist resort, especially for hiking and all kinds of winter sport. Since 1898 Schierke station has been served by the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways. In 1914 and 1934 it was the site of the German Skeleton Championships. Nevertheless, due to its location next to the former inner German border, visits to Schierke required an extra permission by East German authorities between 1952 and 1989.

Today Schierke again is a popular place to start or finish a walk to the Brocken mountain via the Goetheweg or the Glashüttenweg. It has bus service and access to the Brocken Railway, whose station is located about 100 metres above the village. A popular attraction in the area is the "Brocken Coaster", a local summer rodelbahn. Schierke is also not far from downhill skiing destinations such as the slope of the Wurmberg mountain, the second highest of the Harz. Another winter activity in the area involves hiring or obtaining a sled and riding it down the "bob bahn" – a local tobogganing track.