Cultural heritage Harz Mountain Meadows

The "Oberharz", the Upper Harz Region, is known for its species-rich mountain meadows. Quite often, they are described as "juwels of species diversity" which is by far no exaggeration. Along with typical representatives of the flora of mountain meadows like the colourful wood cranesbill, the aromatic spignel, the bizarre spiked rampion, the delicate cuckoo flower or the bristled wig knapweed you will find numerous now protected, threatened species such as orchids. Not uncommonly, there are more than 100 different species of ferns and flowering plants on mountain meadows. In turn, the meadows rich in herbs provide a source of life for a variety of insects, particularly butterflies. Wet meadows in the valleys serve as feeding grounds for the rare black stork. The Harz Mountain Meadows are a man-made, hundreds of years old cultural landscape. Their main development was in the prosperity of mining in Harz in the 15th and 16th century. Traditionally, mining and mountain meadows were strongly connected. Without the side-line extensive farming practice of the miners, such diverse mountain meadows couldn't have developed. The miners were entitled by the right of mining to set up hay meadows for the production of winter fodder for livestock. Harz cows and goats ensured the survival of the families at that time. Often, they mowed only once a year. Just in autumn were the areas free for grazing. Until then, the cows were driven to the forest for pasture. Without the help of people, they would rapidly be forested and vanish from our landscape. The ecologically friendly silvicultural land use by use of mowing and grazing by the "Harzer Höhenvieh" are indispensable for the mountain meadows preservation. The race "Harzer Rotes Höhenvieh", as it is named correctly, probably belongs to the oldest and most native livestock. The typical character of the originally from France and England introduced Celtic bovine was formed in the late 19th century by hybridization with Bernese, Tyrolese and Zillertal cows. Its herewith gained advantageous characteristics for facing the climatically difficult low mountain range made it a valuable farm animal for the miners. The modest cattle breed was suitable for milk- and meat production as well as draft animal. Nevertheless, this to climate and grounds of the long-standing Harz Mountain Meadows superbly adjusted cattle just escaped extinction. Finally, two aspects contributed to turn the tables: nature conservation that depends on grazing to preserve mountain meadows and tourism industry, which, with local identity and regional products, had the finger on the pulse of visitors. According to the herd book, 501 cows and 16 bulls of this very old and native race are producing offspring in the whole Harz region. Sometimes, you can watch Harzer Höhenvieh on the mountain meadows around Drei Annen Hohne doing its job in landscape management.