THE HARZ MOUNTAINS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8, 24 February 1906, Page 4

THE HARZ MOUNTAINS.

FOR colonial visitors to England desirous of spending a short, inexpensive holiday on the Continent of Europe, the Harz Mountains have singular claims. Thev are cheap and easy to reach. Go by Flushing and Hanover and your return fares will amount only to £5 10/ first class, nr £4 second. The roads are excellent, and though there are. of course, hills, the bicycle never becomes a burden. Villages are numerous and at each are simple and homely inns, cheap, cleanly, comfortable. The Harz Mountains are the home of the legendary lore of Germany and to this day supply the country with Christmas trees. The conditions are favourable to photography. You should, however. always take your camera into the railway carriage with you. use films rather than plates, and give short exposures, the light, on account of the altitude, being better than in England. A little German is an advantage. The peasant, unlike the German tradespeople. do not know English. Very little German will suffice. the peasant, whose solitary cow is left to look after herself and as often as not “sleeps in.” does not know much German himself. There is only one warning. The traveller should he careful of drinking the water of the mountains streams. It is dangerous. The character of the country sufficiently appears from the photographs here reproduced. There are two ways of exploring the Harz Mountains. You mav either make your base at some cen're and thence visit the chief points of interest which all lie within bicycle range, or you may tour. Whichever way the visitor selects he should see the Claus Vash. from which on a fine day you can see the Brocken, and Ouerthal. You will have to pay 10/ fare for your bicycle, but it is bes+ to have it. The time to visit the Harz Mountains is in August or September.