#HistoricMiningCity #CityInHarz #InnovationCity
CLAUSTHAL-ZELLERFELD
THE UNIVERSITY CITY WITH TWO WINTER SEMESTERS
Clausthal-Zellerfeld used to be a mining town. But times have changed and so has the city. Thanks to its University of Technology (TU), it has become known for innovation, openness and internationality.
Facts
15,727 Inhabitants ¹
3,697 Students ²
1 Higher education institution ²
WELCOME TO CLAUSTHAL-ZELLERFELD
The mining and university town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld is situated on a high plateau in the Harz region, a place where the weather plays a significant role. You will often encounter a blustery wind and there will be many rainy days. Because the winter is so long and snowy, students often joke about it. They say that the is the only university that has two winter semesters!
But don’t be daunted by the weather statistics. There are plenty of sunny, warm days in summer and autumn when you can take a swim in one of some 60 lakes in and around Clausthal-Zellerfeld. Or take a walk through the two parts of town, Clausthal and Zellerfeld, and discover the history of this once divided city. The historically important sites are marked by the so-called Dennert Pine. On these signs you’ll find information about the city’s past and its famous residents.
Even beyond the borders of Lower Saxony, Clausthal-Zellerfeld played an important role in history. The town was known for its mining operations for several centuries. Although the heydays of coal mining are over, the city still has a close relationship to mining. For example, there is the Oberharzer Mining Museum where visitors can go down into former mine shafts.
Tip
Take a trip on the old mining train! The Oberharzer Mining Museum in Clausthal-Zellerfeld offers visitors the chance to visit the old Ottiliae mining shaft. Be sure to inquire in advance about when you can hop aboard, because “the old lady“ doesn’t make the trip that often!
The TU Clausthal plays an important role in the city’s future. Each year hundreds of students from around the world study at the university. Some decide to remain after graduation and have started their own companies or research institutes which work closely with the university. Many companies located at the Innovationspark Tannenhöhe and Am Pulverhaus were founded by university graduates in the past 20 to 30 years.
Interview
MEHDI FROM IRAN
LIFE IN CLAUSTHAL-ZELLERFELD
Life revolves around the university. Many students enjoy taking a stroll down the shopping street (Adolph-Roemer-Strasse) during their breaks, meeting for coffee or getting a bite to eat. And many see it as an advantage that the city isn’t very large – it makes it easy to start a conversation and arrange to meet up later. The city is also a popular destination for tourists who start their hiking and cycling tours from here.
There is an extensive system of bike paths in the region surrounding Clausthal-Zellerfeld. There are paths for casual bikers who like to take it easy, and there are specific routes suited to mountains bikers. Inquire at the Tourist Information office or local bookshops for bike touring maps of the region.
You can easily reach many of the nearby lakes by bike. Most of them look very natural and pristine and are perfect for taking a dip. You can find a supervised sunbathing area and boat rental shop at the Oberer Hausherzberger Teich. And if you suffer from asthma or allergies, you’ll be happy to know that because of its clean air and numerous lakes, Clausthal-Zellerfeld is an official climatic health resort.
Summer isn’t the only time of year you can play outdoor sports: In the winter you can take advantage of a large network of cross-country ski trails in the region. There is a small slope in Zellerfeld where you can even go downhill skiing and sledding.
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