Mountain village Hohegeiß

In a wooded area of the Hochharz, for which the name “Hogeyz” was first mentioned in 1268, the monastery of Walkenried had a chapel built in 1444. It became the nucleus of the then emerging settlement “Hohegeiß.” There are many attempts at interpretation of the name. An explanation as “Hohe Quelle” or “Hohe Gasse” seems possible.

Ore mining, cattle breeding and charcoal were at first the livelihoods of the population of the slow-growing town. In later centuries, there were three main occupations: nail smiths, butchers and car drivers. At the end of the 19th century, tourism gained in importance. “Summer strangers” came to Hohegeiss to relax here. The name “highest village in the Harz” was used to promote the “Höhen-Spa town of Hohegeiß.” After 1900 it was also winter sports enthusiasts who “discovered” the place.

Today Hohegeiss is strongly influenced by tourism. In 2019, the resort counted more than 47,800 guests with almost 200,000 overnight stays.

Hohegeiß has been part of Braunlage since 1972, but has kept its own “face. ” Situated on a 642 m high ridge with almost 1000 inhabitants, the village is surrounded by mountain meadows and forests. And the elevated position offers the advantage of the wide view over many mountains and valleys of the Harz up to the Brocken in the north and – on clear days – in the south to the Inselberg in the Thuringian Forest.