Soak up the culture: reservoirs in the Harz

Water sports and much more are on offer at the huge reservoirs in the Harz. Rowing, sailing, pedalos and windsurfing are all on offer at the Oder, Oker and Rappboden reservoirs. But there is plenty more to discover as well: the Brocken, for instance, in the fabled mountain wilderness of the Upper Harz National Park, or the rocky Bode Valley, all romantic and wild. Visit Goslar, a centre of imperial power, with a history going back 1,000 years. Its fully preserved medieval quarter and the disused Rammelsberg silver mine nearby have been a UNESCO world cultural heritage site since 1992. The university town of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, home of Germany's largest wooden church, is also well worth a visit.