Hexentanzplatz (Witches' Dance Floor)

The Hexentanzplatz ("Witches' Dance Floor") near Thale is a rocky plateau 454 meters (about 1,490 feet) above sea level, perched high over the Bode Gorge in Germany's Harz Mountains. It is one of the most popular things to do in the Harz: a dramatic viewpoint, a place steeped in witch legends tied to Walpurgis Night and Goethe's "Faust," and a family-friendly hub with an open-air theater, a small wildlife park, and a whimsical witches' village.

Where it is and how to get there

Thale sits on the northern edge of the Harz in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, roughly a 2.5 to 3 hour drive from Berlin and about 1.5 hours from Leipzig. By rail, the hourly RE 11 regional train runs from Magdeburg via Halberstadt and Quedlinburg to Thale; the Deutschlandticket is valid on it.

From Thale station it is about a mile on foot to the valley station of the gondola lift, which carries you up to the plateau in about five minutes. You can also drive straight to the top, where a large parking area offers around 750 spaces. Hikers can climb up from town in about 60 to 90 minutes.

Legends and history

According to local tradition, Saxon tribes held May Eve celebrations here for forest and mountain goddesses. When the Christian Franks banned the rites, the Saxons supposedly dressed up as witches on broomsticks and chased off the guards. That story, along with the region's broader Walpurgis lore, gave the plateau its name. Much older is the Sachsenwall, a dry-stone granite wall about 150 meters long, built roughly between 750 and 450 BC and probably used as a refuge.

In 1901 the Walpurgishalle opened, a timber hall displaying Hermann Hendrich's large paintings of scenes from "Faust." In 1903 Ernst Wachler founded the Harzer Bergtheater, one of Germany's oldest open-air theaters. Between 2022 and 2024 the plateau and theater were redeveloped for about €27 million.

Things to do on the plateau

• The view: look straight down into the Bode Gorge and across to the Rosstrappe cliffs.
• Bronze sculptures of the Devil, a homunculus, and the witch Wadelinde, unveiled in 1996.
• The Witches' Village (Hexendorf), opened in 2024, with crooked, colorful houses and 17 shops and food stands.
• Family extras: a wildlife park with native animals, the Harzbob all-weather toboggan, and the HARZEUM interactive museum.
• Summer shows at the open-air theater, now seating about 1,900 people.

Tickets and opening hours

Entry to the plateau is free. Gondola fares (as of October 2026) are €7.50 one way or €10.50 round trip for adults and €4.50 or €6.50 for children aged 4 to 14. Dogs ride for €1.50 each way. The lift runs daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. until October 24, then until 4:30 p.m. through November 1, and pauses from November 2 to December 24.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially combined with a hike through the Bode Gorge. Plan two to five hours. On April 30, Walpurgis Night brings big crowds and costumed celebrations; for quieter views, come on a fall weekday morning. Nearby, you can also visit the UNESCO-listed old town of Quedlinburg, about 6 miles away, or Wernigerode Castle.