Brocken House

{{Infobox building | name = Brocken House | native_name = {{native name|de|Brockenhaus}} | image = 080 Brockenhaus - Harz.jpg | image_caption = The Brocken House on Mount Brocken (2010) | architectural_style = Modern architecture | cost = | address = | location_town = Wernigerode | location_country = Germany | client = | owner = | current_tenants = Brocken Museum and Harz National Park visitor centre | coordinates = | construction_start_date = 1983 (Spy listening station) | inauguration_date = 1986, redesign 1998-2000 | height = | diameter = | floor_area = | architect = Wolf-Rüdiger Eisentraut (redesign)<ref name="Dannenbaum">{{Cite book |title=Auf dem Brocken. Hexen, Harz und Heine |last=Dannenbaum |first=Marc |publisher=terra press |year=2012 |isbn=978-3942917049 |location=Berlin |pages=63-64 |language=de |trans-title=On the Brocken. Witches, Harz and Heine}}</ref> | public_transit = Brocken station of the Brocken Railway | embedded = {{Infobox museum | embed = yes  | name = Brocken Museum | native_name = {{native name|de|Brockenmuseum}} | native_name_lang = de | logo = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_dot_label = | coordinates = {{coord|51.800472|10.615748|display=inline,title}} | former_name =  | established = {{start date|1991|06|01|df=y}}<ref name="Schmidt">{{Cite book |title=Der Brocken. Berg zwischen Natur und Technik |last=Schmidt |first=Thomas |publisher=Schmidt-Buch-Verlag |year=1992 |isbn=3-928977-59-8 |edition=3rd |location=Wernigerode |publication-date=2000 |pages=58 |language=de |trans-title=Der Brocken. Mountain between nature and technology. |last2=Korsch |first2=Jürgen}}</ref><ref name="aufarbeitung" /> | dissolved =  | location = | type = | accreditation = | key_holdings = | collections = | collection_size = | visitors = | founder = | executive_director = | deputy_director = | leader_type = | leader = | director = | president = | ceo = | chairperson = | curator = | historian = | owner = | employees = | public_transit = | parking =  | website = {{URL|https://www.brockenhaus-harz.de/}}, in German | network = | embedded =  }} }} The '''Brocken House''' ({{native name|de|Brockenhaus}}) is a building on the summit of the Mount Brocken in the Harz Mountains in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It serves as a visitor center of the Harz National Park and museum.<ref name="whichmuseum">{{Cite web |title=Nationalpark-Besucherzentrum Brockenhaus and its collection |url=https://whichmuseum.com/museum/nationalpark-besucherzentrum-brockenhaus-wernigerode-27214 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=whichmuseum.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Description == The Brocken House has the shape of a cube topped by a distinctive white dome, which recalls the building's original function as a spy listening station built by the GDR Ministry for State Security. This feature led to the building being colloquially referred to as the "Brocken Mosque" or "Stasi Mosque".<ref name="whichmuseum" /><ref name="Schmidt" /> Another architectural feature is the glass facade on one side, which spans all three floors and measures {{convert|115|m2|sqft}}. The design of this distinctive front, which was the result of an architectural competition in the 1990s, comes from Wolf Rüdiger Eisentraut, the architect of the Palace of the Republic in Berlin.<ref name="Dannenbaum" /> The exterior walls of the Brocken House were covered with a wooden facade in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationalpark-Besucherzentrum Brockenhaus in neuem Gewand |url=https://www.brockenhaus-harz.de/brockenhaus/de/aktuelles/2018/2018_07_14_Brockenhaus_neueFassade/ |date=2018-07-14 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=brockenhaus-harz.de |trans-title=National Park Visitor Centre Brocken House in a new guise. New wooden exterior façade has been completed |language=de}}</ref> and the glass front was renewed in 2024.<ref name="renovation glass">{{Cite web |title=Die höchste Baustelle Sachsen-Anhalts. Sanierung der Glasfassade am Brockenhaus abgeschlossen |url=https://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/aktuelles/2024/2024_12_10_Brockenhaus/ |date=2024-12-10 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=nationalpark-harz.de |trans-title=The highest construction site in Saxony-Anhalt: Renovation of the glass façade at the Brocken House completed |language=de}}</ref> Each of the panes weighing around {{convert|128|kg|lb}} was individually measured and manufactured, as the window surfaces have neither right angles nor standardised sizes.<ref name="renovation glass" /> The building is integrated into the summit development. == History == === Building === The groundbreaking ceremony for the house took place in 1983.<ref name="aufarbeitung">{{Cite web |title=Brockenhaus |url=https://www.orte-des-erinnerns.de/igof_memorials/brockenhaus/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=orte-des-erinnerns.de |publisher=Bundesstiftung Aufarbeitung |language=de}}</ref> The espionage activity in the house was finished by the Peaceful Revolution in 1989. In 1991, the Brocken House transferred for use by the Harz National Park.<ref name="Dannenbaum" /> In 1994, the state of Saxony-Anhalt bought the building from the Federal Republic of Germany.<ref name="Dannenbaum" /><ref name="aufarbeitung" /> After the government of Saxony-Anhalt in Magdeburg had already announced the conversion of the mosque in 1993, the work finally began in 1998.<ref name="Schmidt" /> With the renovation of the Brocken House and the installation of the staircase with the glass front, the Brocken House was stripped of its military character. After that, work began on setting up the exhibition. After several delays, the Brocken House opened in 2000.<ref name="aufarbeitung" />

In addition to exhibition rooms, accommodation for national park rangers and mountain rescue services as well as a small café<ref name="visitor centre">{{Cite web |title=Nationalpark-Besucherzentrum Brockenhaus. Eine Reise durch die Magie und Vielfalt des Berges |url=https://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/besucherzentren/brockenhaus/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=nationalpark-harz.de |trans-title=National Park Visitor Centre Brocken House. A journey through the magic and diversity of the mountain |language=de}}</ref> have also been set up. The dome on the roof was also open to the public after the renovation.<ref name="visitor centre" /> === Museum === The Brocken Museum, created in 1991 as part of the Wernigerode Harz Museum and housed by a disused radar station, quickly developed into a visitor magnet. Around 125,000 people a year (1997) viewed the small exhibition.<ref name="Schmidt" /> In the harsh Brocken climate, the service in the museum was highly uncomfortable, because the dome made of fiberglass and plastic could not be heated and was also not insulated.<ref name="Schmidt" /> From 1 June 1991, the museum presented interesting facts about the Brocken nature and the old border fortifications on display boards in the old dome, as well as marvel at the oldest piece of rail on the Brocken railway and original listening technology.<ref name="Schmidt" />

On 1 June 1993, the Brocken Museum then moved into the mosque which now belonged to the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Museum director Gerd Borchert and his staff set up the exhibition on one floor of the three-storey domed building.<ref name="Schmidt" /> It provided even more comprehensive information about the history of the mountain, the mysticism surrounding witches and devils as well as the development of the National Park, including several models of the development of the mount Brocken. == Exhibition == Over the years, the exhibition has been redesigned and expanded on three floors. On 30 June 2018, a new part of the permanent exhibition was ceremoniously inaugurated.<ref name="new">{{Cite web |title=Brockenhaus mit neuen Attraktionen. Neue Dauerausstellung zur Spionagegeschichte des Brockens im Nationalpark-Besucherzentrum Brockenhaus eröffnet |url=https://www.nationalpark-harz.de/de/aktuelles/2018/2018_07_03_Brockenhaus_Ausstellungseroeffnung/ |date=2018-07-04 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=nationalpark-harz.de |trans-title=Brocken House with new attractions. New permanent exhibition on the espionage history of the Brocken opened in the Brocken House National Park Visitor Centre |language=de}}</ref> It deals thematically with the division of Germany and the secret service past of the former Stasi listening centre "Urian" on the Brocken.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Objekt URIAN - Abhörstation Brocken |url=https://www.geschichtsspuren.de/artikel/fmelo-eloka-sigint/45-objekt-urian-horchposten-brocken.html |last=Grube |first=Michael |date=2003-08-25 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=geschichtsspuren.de |trans-title=Object URIAN – Brocken listening station |language=de}}</ref> Part of this exhibition is also the dome, which has been extensively repaired and is accessible to visitors via a spiral staircase.<ref name="new" /> It houses historical listening systems, multimedia installations and eyewitness accounts.

In 2019, the first floor has been redesigned with the new exhibition section "Natura 2000/Harz National Park".<ref name="natura">{{Cite web |title=Neue Ausstellung und verbessertes Besucherlenkungssystem auf dem Brocken eröffnet |url=https://www.brockenhaus-harz.de/brockenhaus/de/aktuelles/2019/2019_10_25_Brockenhaus-Ausstellung-er%C3%B6ffnet/ |date=2019-10-24 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=brockenhaus-harz.de |trans-title=New exhibition and improved visitor guidance system opened on the Brocken |language=de}}</ref> The experience-centred exhibition concept uses staged rooms and sophisticated scenographies to enable visitors to immerse themselves intensively in the topics on offer.

== Management == The Brocken House is operated by the ''Brockenhaus GmbH''. The state of Saxony-Anhalt holds 64 % of the shares, the city of Wernigerode 36 %.<ref name="natura" />

== Various == The Brocken House is also a checkpoint on the Harzer Wandernadel hiking network (stamping point #9).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview map |url=https://www.harzer-wandernadel.de/en/stamping-points/overview-map/ |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=harzer-wandernadel.de |language=en}}</ref>

<gallery style="text-align:center"> Brockenhaus 01.jpg|The Brocken House seen from the viewing platform of the adjacent Brocken Hotel (2016) Bebauung auf dem Brockengipfel.jpg|Development on the Brocken summit, the Brocken House is on the right (2026) In der Ausstellung im Brockenhaus.jpg|Inside the Brocken museum (2026) Brockenhaus-Kuppel mit Öffnung zur Aussichtsplattform Mitte Oktober 2018.jpg|The opening of the Brocken House dome towards the viewing platform (2018) </gallery>

== References == <references />

== External links == {{Commons category|}} * {{URL|https://www.brockenhaus-harz.de/}}, in German

{{portal|Harz}} Category:Museums established in 1991 Category:Museums in Saxony-Anhalt Category:Nature centres in Germany Category:Buildings and structures in Harz (district) Category:Wernigerode Category:Military installations established in 1986 Category:Inner German border