Whoever does it, either hiking on the marked trails through the Harz National Park or on the rails of the historic Brocken railway, they will enjoy a good day at the summit of 1142 metres with extended views across the North German Plain perhaps even seeing as far as Berlin on a clear day. The Brocken, alias Block Mountain is steeped in German folklore, such as Walpurgis Night, on the eve of May Day, when witches fly on broomsticks.  When the wind blows, it really blows. Often wind speeds of 263 kilometers per hour can occur at the summit. Nevertheless, the Brocken was the desired goal of German poets and philosophers. With about two million visitors to the Brocken it is the most popular destination in the region.