Experience Berta, the Kiepen woman: stories from the Harz!

Experience Berta, the Kiepen woman: stories from the Harz!

Here in Osterode am Harz there is an exciting event: On Saturday, July 19, 2025, the city tourist information invites you to a special city tour. Under the title "With Berta, the Kiepenfrau, through Osterode", the participants receive: Inside a deep insight into the fascinating world of Kiepenfrauen, who once drew through the region with their goods and stories. The tour takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is accessible to anyone interested who want to learn more about these extraordinary women.

These Kiepen women had an important role in the Harz region, by not only transporting goods, but also bearing news and wisdom from village to village. Berta himself will tell of her everyday life and the challenges that she had to face. The aim of the tour is to revive the social role of these remarkable women and to appreciate their commitment appropriately. The meeting point is before the tourist information on Stadtmauer, Aegidienstraße 16 in Osterode am Harz. Participation costs € 8.00 per person, while children and adolescents up to 16 years of age can come free of charge. Registration is not necessary, so just come over!

A look at the history of the Kiepen women

The first illustrations of the Kiepen women date from the 16th century. These women shaped the image of the Harz until the 1st third of the 20th century. Often referred to as the "camels of the upper resin", they transported loads of over 40 kilograms in a Kiepe, a wicker system made of braided pasture. For many mining and forest worker families, they were the lifeline because their wages often served as an extra bread for family income. Especially in the winter months, they maintained contact with the plain and exchanged information as well as information that was of great importance in rural areas. Their tasks were diverse and included transporting food, alcohol and wool, as well as forest care.

as "powder wearers" some of them transported black powder, while others brought fresh products as "landlords" or contributed to the care of the forests as "cultural women". Their strength and tolerance made them a tireless power of nature. Interestingly, the Kiepen women used every free minute and often knitted during their ways. They did not stop pregnancies from work; They often carried their toddlers in the Kiepe or a "call". Reports even testify to births. But the hard work also had its dark side: the loss of health often led to beg when there was no family.

tourism and Kiepenfrauen

With the rise of tourism in the Harz, the Kiepen women won a new work area and became popular resin guides. Many hiking trails in the Oberharz run on the old paths today, which were once used by these strong women. A small literary heritage has formed around the topics of Kiepen women. We would like to recommend the works "Herbal women, Kiepen women and messenger in the Harz" from Goslar (1991) and Uwe Lagatz ’" Guide and Harz Guide "from Wernigerode (2011), who illuminate the fascinating life of these women in detail.

If you are interested in the stories and the life of the Kiepen women, you should not miss the tour of Osterode. It will be an opportunity to immerse yourself in the past while strolling through the beautiful streets of this historic city.