Wernigerode, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany - November, 2013

Описание: Architecture, Steam Trains, a Castle and a Wedding, Wernigerode seemingly has them all, or at least this film suggests that. I visited Wernigerode in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt in November 2013, in order to ride the acclaimed Brockenbahn narrow gauge railway up to the summit of the Brocken mountain - the highest peak in the Harz Mountains. I stayed there for two full days and made this film of the town during my stay.

The film begins on Marktstraße, before moving to the market square and town hall, where a young couple have just got married, ornamental bells ring along one of the towns quaint streets, before I go by the Western Tower or Westerntor towards the Brockenbahn level crossing. Here I wait for a returning steam train pulling coaches back to Wernigerode Bahnhof, the train passes and I walk along the line to Wernigerode Westerntor station, which is quiet as it is out of season. Nearby some relics of a bygone railway age sit and rust.

I walk on to the new pedestrian / cycle bridge over the railway line, which offers views towards the Brocken, Castle and main railway station. Here I film a couple of passing trains, both new and old. I then make my way along Station Road seeing along the way, a couple of the narrow gauge steam locomotives maouvering and one being filled with coal. I then move on to the station itself where I film a couple of departing services.

From here I walk back into the town centre via St. John's Church, and head for the artistically decorated Nicolaiplatz, and the busy shopping street of Breite Straße. From the end of there I take a road train up to Wernigerode Castle, taking time upon arrival to film the castle, the castle terrace, and then the lovely Wintery views over Wernigerode and the surrounding countryside. The film ends with a view from here directly towards the Brocken - the feature which brought me to this part of Germany in the first place.