Trudenstein

The Trudenstein is a rock formation and popular hiker's destination in the Harz Mountains of central Germany.

The Trudenstein lies beside the Glashütten Way[1] on the wooded southern slopes of the Hohnekopf ridge about two kilometres northeast of the village of Schierke in the Harz National Park.

The Brocken Railway, an important heritage line, runs past the rocks immediately to the south, below a granite quarry.

[3] The name Trudenstein is derived from the appearance of the rocks which is supposed to resemble a drude, an old German, witch-like figure associated with dreams.

[1][4] In 1783 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe walked past the Trudenstein during one of his visits to the Harz and, in 1811, Caspar David Friedrich drew a sketch of the rocks.