HarzWaldHaus
Interactive forest experience exhibition in the Bad Harzburg Kurpark with a living ant zoo and themes of the lynx and the Harz forest.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The HarzWaldHaus grew out of the former "Haus der Natur" and stands in the Kurpark of Bad Harzburg, directly beside the valley station of the Burgberg cable car. In autumn 2022 it reopened with a newly designed, interactive forest experience exhibition.
Operators and concept partners are the Niedersächsische Landesforsten (Lower Saxony State Forests) and the Nationalpark Harz. The exhibition asks how the Harz forest changes over a day, a year, or centuries, how sustainable timber use and nature conservation can be reconciled, and what significance wood has as a raw material today and in the future. Its special focuses are the lynx, which has been re-established in the Harz, and the life of wood ants.
A particular highlight is a living ant zoo, partly inside the house and partly outdoors; according to the house, it is the largest indoor formicarium in Germany. The exhibition is designed as a darkened space: many exhibits work with light and shadow, and media stations also offer audio content. A shop and forest education programs complement the offer.
Highlights
- Living ant zoo (formicarium) inside and outside
- Lynx diorama and information on the re-established lynx
- Change in the Harz forest between timber use and nature conservation
- Listening station and media screens
- Wild herb and theater workshops for families
Permanent exhibition
- Interaktive Walderlebnisausstellung – Walk-through of the changing Harz forest with a lynx diorama, wood ants in the living ant zoo, and information on sustainable timber use.
- Operated by
- Niedersächsische Landesforsten (mit Nationalpark Harz)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
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| Reduced | €2.50Holders of Harzer Kurgastkarte (50% discount) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people up to their 18th birthday enter free. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3 per personPrice per person |
| Harz Card holders | freeFree admission |
Further discounts on request.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Ground-level entrance. The exhibition area is ground-level throughout, exhibits can also be viewed while seated, and the ant zoo is wheelchair-accessible both inside and outside. The sales area on the upper level can be reached via five steps or via a ramp at the side entrance (approx. 30 m, slight incline). The service counter and lockers can also be used while seated; at the end of the route there is a listening station with seating. The exhibition has subdued lighting.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
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- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Kids’ birthday parties
Interactive exhibition for the whole family; certified under "Kinderferienland Niedersachsen" (Lower Saxony children's holiday region). Children's birthday parties and special offers on request; theater workshops on the theme of ants for ages 8 to 12.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Burgbergbahn · 200 m
Bus stop "Burgbergbahn" (lines 871, 873) and stop "Berliner Platz" (lines 810, 820, 821, 866, 871, 873, summer line 875); reachable from Bad Harzburg station with several bus lines.
By car
Paid parking · 100 m to the entrance
Paid parking at the Burgberg cable car (approx. 100 spaces, several accessible parking spaces, another approx. 50 m toward the house). Large car park on the B4, Nordhäuser Str. 12A (approx. 350 spaces, about 600 m away). Sole-Therme/HarzWaldHaus car park: paid, maximum parking time 6 hours, payment with coins or Pay by Phone.
- Accessible parking
The house is near the edge of town on the B4 toward Torfhaus, between Berliner Platz and the Burgberg cable car. From the car park and the stops, a traffic-calmed, paved pedestrian zone without gradient leads to the entrance.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Shop with books on the Harz and nature, hiking maps, selected toys, and gift items; lockers in the entrance area.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Workshops and courses (e.g., wild herb tours, children's theater workshop) only with binding registration; dates are on the house's website. |
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