The ridge of the Alter Stolberg is part of the South Harz Zechstein belt and lies mainly in Thuringia; with its eastern foothills dropping into the valley of the Krebsbach stream and Thyra river. To the north is the Harz; to the south the Goldene Aue through which the River Helme flows.
The highest hill in the Alter Stolberg is the Königskopf (357.7 m above sea level (NN)) which rises in the northern part of the ridge. Another prominent hill is the Reesberg (325.2 m above NN) in the southeastern part.
Points of interest
The northern part of the heavily forested ridge is designated as the Alter Stolberg Nature Reserve and large parts of it as the Alter Stolberg Protected Landscape.
Near the Reesberg is the plaster cave, known as Heimkehle. In addition, the ridge is home to the ruins of the Grasburg, a medieval refuge castle, which legend has it was the family castle of the Counts of Stolberg.[1]