Ferdinandstein

The Ferdinandstein is a prominent rock in the Harz National Park in central Germany

Location
The Ferdinandstein lies at an elevation of 648 metres above sea level near Plessenburg in the borough of Wernigerode in the Harz Mountains.

Geology
The rock is a granite boulder that is a typical product of spheroidal weathering.

History
The rock is inscribed with the words "Ferdinands Stein". Behind it on a smaller rock embedded in the ground is the inscription "Hier schoss Ferdinand Graf zu Stolberg Wernigerode am 23ten Merz 1798 einen Wolf" ("Here Ferdinand, Count of Stolberg- Wernigerode shot a wolf on 23 March 1798"). This was the last wolf living in the wild that was shot by the Count.

Views and hiking
The rock is checkpoint no. 16 in the Harzer Wandernadel hiking network.

Literature

 * Hahnemann, Marlies (2011). Die Harzer Wandernadel, 2nd ed., Projeckte-Verlag Cornelius, Halle, p. 29. ISBN 978-3-95486-100-2.