The Molkenhaus (528 m above sea level) is located in the Harz National Park in a forest clearing by the Hasselteich pond between Bad Harzburg and the Eckertalsperre reservoir.
The first whey house was built in 1665 by the bailiff Heinrich von Uslar. It served as a dormitory for the cowherds of the surrounding pastures.
In 1883, the farmer Otto Reuß takes over the whey house, which has since been moved to the Hasselbach. The pastureland is used by a herd of pure-bred brown Harz cows. The development of the region with the Braunschweig – Bad Harzburg railroad line boosts tourism and the Molkenhaus becomes an inn on the way to the Brocken. Hikers are treated to thick milk, sugar, cinnamon and dry bread.
In 1891, Otto Reuß developed the house into the most famous hotel guesthouse in the Harz Mountains, promoted winter sports and started feeding game. In 1973, after so many years of use, the facilities of the house no longer met the demands of the guests. The former landlord family left the Molkenhaus and the property was burned down on December 15, 1973 by order of the forestry administration.
In 1976, today’s Molkenhaus hiking station was built north of the Hassel pond and, following a change of ownership and extensive renovations in 2007, is now a popular hiking and excursion destination.
Parking is available at the large parking lot in Bad Harzburg directly on the Bundesstraße 4 towards Torfhaus. From there, you have to decide whether you want to conquer the Burgberg on foot or take the cable car up the 150 meters to the top. From the mountain station, wide hiking trails lead to the Molkenhaus and on to the Rabenklippe HWN 170, the Kreuz des deutschen Ostens HWN 122 and the „Aussichtreich“ HWN 121.
The shortest route leads from the parking lot above the Radau waterfall via the Rudolfsklippe up a steep incline to the Molkenhaus.
