The townscape of Wernigerode’s old town is characterised by picturesque half-timbered houses in bright colours, which once earned the town the name “colourful town”. Over the centuries, however, many of the historic buildings fell victim to several town fires. The castle, which already towered over Wernigerode when the town was founded, was converted by the counts of Wernigerode into a baroque palace and then into a representative palace. Also worth seeing are the Gothic House, which was rebuilt from a ruin in 1538, and the “Leaning House”. The mill, dating from 1680, was washed out by the millrace to such an extent that it sank and is now severely leaning.
