The Waldgaststätte Rinderstall is located between Braunlage and St. Andreasberg in the idyllic Odertal valley.
The history of the cattle shed is closely linked to the history of Sankt Andreasberg. Since 1870, the Oder Valley and the forests around the cattle shed have been the summer pasture of the brown Harz cattle herd.
While the dairy cattle from the mountain town were driven to the forest pastures in the morning and back to their home stables in the evening, the herdsmen and young cattle stayed down here in the valley throughout the summer months. The „Rinderstall“ building served as a home for the shepherd and as a stable for the cattle. The shepherd’s family also kept a few cows in a separate section of the barn for their own use and to provide a fresh milk drink for passing hikers. They were always welcome here, and soon there were more hikers than cattle to feed on some days.
So it’s no wonder that the cattle shed became a hiking inn as early as the 1950s.
In the course of its existence, the cattle shed changed its face quite involuntarily, as it burned down completely twice, once in 1903 and most recently in 1985. Since 1986, it has presented itself in its current splendour.
The best starting point is the parking lot at the Oderhaus at the junction from the B 27 to St. Andreasberg. From there, follow the flat road to the cattle shed.
