Raschau-Markersbach walks

Discover the lower reservoir of the Markersbach pumped-storage power station, nestled between hydroelectric power and a forest idyll. The walk starts at the lower reservoir of the Markersbach pumped-storage power station. Information boards on the dam explain the function of Germany’s second-largest pumped-storage power station, which plays an important role in storing renewable energy. As you cross the dam, the striking viaduct catches the eye. Deutsche Bahn is currently testing autonomous driving on this historic railway line. The route then leads along well-maintained paths through varied woodland, circling the lower reservoir once. Beautiful views of the water and landscape open up time and again. Rest areas along the route invite you to linger. A particular highlight is the “Mühlchen” with its small water wheels, seating and play facilities. A few metres further on, a large water wheel, a shelter and a Kneipp facility await. From there, the route leads back to the car park.

Old town idyll, history and panoramic views around Schwarzenberg The tour starts at the historic Erlahammer manor, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region. A small exhibition introduces visitors to the region's eventful history.From here, the route continues uphill along the Silberberg hiking trail through meadows, fields and woods, with ever-widening views. In Pöhla, the ski jump dominates the townscape and an idyllic pond invites you to take a break.Then you continue along the European long-distance hiking trail E3 towards Schwarzenberg, accompanied by magnificent panoramic views. In Schwarzenberg, the old town with its castle invites you to explore at length before finally returning to the manor house along the Schwarzwasser river.

UNESCO World Heritage Site, sweeping views and Ore Mountains charm on the Silberberg hiking trail and the E3. The tour begins at Herrenhof Erlahammer, an impressive ensemble of half-timbered buildings and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region. A small exhibition on regional history sets the mood for the hike.The trail then leads uphill across meadows, fields and through shady forests – always accompanied by beautiful views of the valley and the Ore Mountains. In Pöhla, it is worth stopping at the ski jump and the idyllic pond with rest areas.From here, the route follows the E3 long-distance hiking trail through the village and uphill on a quiet road.It then returns to Herrenhof through open countryside and forest.

This cross-border hike takes you to some of the area’s highlights. The starting point for this varied hike is the Rittersgrün outdoor swimming pool. After just a few minutes, you’ll reach the Erzgebirge-Vogtland Ridge Trail, one of Germany’s most beautiful long-distance hiking trails. The route climbs over the Fritzschberg to a rest area with impressive panoramic views. The route then leads deep into the Erzgebirge forest and soon leaves the Kammweg for a detour into the Czech Republic. The destination is the Halbemeiler Wiesn, a historic site of the vanished village of Halbemeile, which invites you to pause for a moment. Shortly afterwards, you reach the small chapel of St Nepomuk, a quiet spot in the middle of the forest. Back in Germany, the route takes you across the Himmelswiese to the Oschützfelsen, offering a beautiful view of the valley. The descent leads to Rittersgrün, past the narrow-gauge railway museum. The return route runs along the other side of the valley, offering magnificent views.

A challenging and wooded tour offering an unforgettable border experience, ideal for experienced hikers. This circular walk, approximately 16 km long, starts at the Rittersgrün outdoor swimming pool. Initially, there are beautiful views of the idyllic mountain village before the path leads into the shady Ore Mountains forest and soon crosses the border into the Czech Republic for the first time. The route climbs steadily through dense forest to the ‘Segen Gottes Stolln’ and on to the historic ‘Johannes-Stolln’, silent reminders of mining history. With a bit of luck, you might spot figures from the Christkindlweg. In Tellerhäuser, the route heads back into Germany. A rest is well worth taking at the lovingly designed “Zwergentreff”. Afterwards, the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail descends alongside a babbling brook. Via the “Wettinplatz” and past the “Himmelsstein”, the trail leads back to the starting point – full of impressions from two countries.

Around the idyllic village, the route takes you along scenic paths and through the deep green forests of the Ore Mountains. The scenic hike starts in Breitenbrunn at the car park by the adventure playground and leads uphill to the Pasterle rock, where you can enjoy impressive views. It then continues into the deep green Ore Mountains forest and past the Rabenberg before opening up again to a sweeping view of the Breitenbrunn valley – very much in keeping with the spirit of the "Panorama Trail". The trail leads downhill to Dorfstraße, crosses it and climbs again through a small settlement. Passing the dual university, the St. Christoph visitor mine and the Hexenhäusel museum, the trail continues uphill with beautiful views back into the valley. The route reaches the edge of the forest via scenic heights before the descent begins via the Steinweg. At Riedelfels, panoramic loungers invite you to take a final break. The return route finally leads past the church back to the starting point.

From Schlettau Castle to Scheibenberg and the organ pipes, on the region's long-distance hiking trails. The hike starts at the historic Schlettau Castle and leads along the Zschopautalweg trail into the gentle hills of the Ore Mountains. Via Walthersdorf with a detour to the Rosenbuschzeche mine and informative "Sparrguschentafeln" information boards, the route continues towards Scheibenberg.At the foot of the basalt mountain, you will meet the E3 and EB long-distance hiking trails. A detour to the lovingly maintained hiking hut rewards you with a view of the Fichtelberg. Via the Ottomar-Zahn-Steig, you finally reach the summit, mountain inn and observation tower.Passing the ski jumps and impressive basalt columns known as "organ pipes", the return route on the E3 and EB leads through forests and along the railway line back to the castle.

Forest loop with sweeping views and a viewing platform This scenic circular walk starts at the Spiegelwaldbaude with the striking König-Albert-Turm, the highest point of the route. The path initially leads through typical spruce forests to the edge of the woods, offering beautiful views of Grünhain. The route then continues at a leisurely pace around the Spiegelwald. The alternation between shady woodland and open sections constantly offers new perspectives on the landscape. A highlight is the Aussichtspilz, also known as the ‘Balcony of the Ore Mountains’. Here, a rest area with an impressive panorama invites you to take a break. The route then follows a former railway embankment before a short climb leads back towards the Spiegelwaldbaude. To finish, it’s well worth the climb up to the observation tower for a 360-degree view of the Ore Mountains.

The steam trains of the Fichtelberg Railway puff between Cranzahl and Kurort Oberwiesenthal several times a day. Those who like to be active themselves can cover the entire route or just a section of it on the "Erlebnispfad Bimmelbahn" (Bimmelbahn Adventure Trail), which runs largely parallel to the railway. The Bimmelbahn adventure trail combines nature, technology and Erzgebirge culture in a special way. It starts in Cranzahl, where a visit to the Räuchermannmuseum (smoking man museum) is well worth it. The trail runs parallel to the narrow-gauge Fichtelberg Railway through fields, meadows and shady forests. The whistling and puffing of the steam locomotive accompanies the hike and offers beautiful photo opportunities. In Neudorf, hikers can visit the "Zum Weihrichkarzl" workshop, which showcases traditional handicrafts, and the original Soup Museum. Along the route, rest areas, shelters and panoramic views invite you to take a break. The destination is the spa town of Oberwiesenthal with places to stop for refreshments and sights to see. The return journey can be made comfortably by steam locomotive.

This scenic circular walk follows the E3 for the most part and starts in Lauter near the outdoor swimming pool. The path leads through an allotment garden into the idyllic Griesetal valley, accompanied by the babbling of a stream. Passing a former ski jump and pastures, the route enters the forest and climbs steadily uphill. At the edge of the forest, it is worth making a short detour to the former nine-trunk beech tree. The path then winds through woodland and clearings before climbing once more. A pond marks the turn-off to the Conradswiese forest school. Shortly afterwards, the route leads to the Sachsenstein viewpoint, offering sweeping views across the Ore Mountains. Passing through the Danelchristelgut estate, where refreshments are available, the route descends back to Lauter with beautiful views. The route is not marked throughout, so we recommend using the digital route.

This challenging hike follows the E3 and EB trails and offers beautiful views of the low mountain range landscape. This varied hike combines sweeping views, quiet forest paths and culture in the Ore Mountains. It starts in Lauter near the outdoor swimming pool on the E3 long-distance hiking trail toDanelchristelgut,whereyou takethe turnoff to the Sachsenstein viewpoint with its impressive panorama .Passing Conradswiese and the Morgenleithe mountain restaurant, a long section through the dense Ore Mountains forestfollows .Later, the route leads via Antonsthal with its historic silver wash towards Schwarzenberg. In addition to further fascinating views, a detour to the famous forest stageawaits. The route then takes you back to the starting pointvia the Griesetal valley and the nine-trunk beech tree.

The hike follows the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail around Bärenstein and leads back to the starting point on the Czech side. It starts at the hiking car park at the foot of Bärenstein. Initially, the trail follows the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge path along the edge of the forest and soon leads into the shady woodland. After a short while, the view opens up to the Cranzahl reservoir – an ideal spot for a first break. The route then passes through the border town of Bärenstein and crosses over into the Czech town of Vejprty. Passing two churches, the path leads through meadows and woods. The ‘Günthers Ruh’ rest area is a great spot for another break. Hikers return to Germany through the forest. An optional detour to the Hotel Fichtenhäusel is available. The route then rejoins the Kammweg. The ascent to the summit of the Bärenstein follows across meadows and through woodland. At the top, a summit cross, views stretching as far as the Fichtelberg and a place to stop for refreshments at the mountain hotel await. The return route leads gently back to the starting point.

The circular hiking trail offers magnificent views of the spa town of Oberwiesenthal, its ski slope and ski jumps. This circular hike is dedicated to the successful winter sportsman Eric Frenzel, one of Germany's most important Nordic combined athletes with numerous world championship and Olympic titles. The varied tour starts at the toboggan run in Oberwiesenthal and leads out of the town centre via Vierenstraße. Even here, there are beautiful views of the Schindelbach Valley and the Ore Mountains landscape. The route leads through dense forests to the Eschenhof nature lodge and on under the cable car into the wild and romantic Schönjungferngrund with its streams and natural paths. The route then passes the famous ski jumps that characterise Oberwiesenthal as a winter sports centre. The tour ends in the town centre with its refreshment stops and the valley station of the Fichtelberg cable car.

The circular route takes you via Loucna pod Klinovcem and the viewpoint at the Wirbelsteine to Klinovec. The route continues via Bozi Dar and the Fichtelberg back to the start of the tour. This scenic circular route is named after the successful luge athlete Sylke Otto, who won two Olympic gold medals and is regarded as the most successful luge athlete of all time. The route starts in Oberwiesenthal at the valley station of the cable car. From the centre, the path leads downhill and crosses the Fichtelbergbahn railway line. After crossing the border into the Czech Republic, the route climbs uphill with beautiful views of Oberwiesenthal and the Ore Mountains. Through the forest, the route reaches the Wirbelsteine, a rewarding viewpoint. The route continues to Keilberg (Klínovec), the highest mountain in the Bohemian Ore Mountains, offering panoramic views. It then descends to Boží Dar and back to Germany. The highlight is the Fichtelberg (1,215 m). The viewing tower offers an impressive panoramic view before the route leads back to Oberwiesenthal.

The hike crosses the border between Germany and the Czech Republic and offers a perfect combination of physical challenge and breathtaking scenery in the Ore Mountains. The route begins in the spa town of Oberwiesenthal, Germany’s highest town. From here, the roughly 18.6 km-long tour sets off along the border. The route takes you along forest tracks and high-altitude paths with constant ups and downs, typical of the ridge region. A detour to the Amtssteigfelsen is well worth it for the sweeping views. Passing the Bächelhütte and Börnerwiese, you reach Tellerhäuser, where the “Zwergentreff” is a great place to take a break. You then cross the border into the Czech Republic and hike through forests towards Boží Dar. There is plenty to discover along the Christkindlweg. The village offers culture and the atmosphere of the Ore Mountains. The route takes you back to Oberwiesenthal via the Zechengrund, where you can stop for refreshments and a stroll.

This hike combines the three long-distance trails E3, EB and the Zschopautalwanderweg into a challenging but stunning tour with incredible views. This varied tour starts at the historic Frohnauer Hammer, a landmark of Annaberg-Buchholz. Along the E3 long-distance trail, a demanding climb leads to sweeping views of the town, St Anne’s Church and the Pöhlberg.The route takes you over hills and fields to the Dörfler Höhe with its impressive panoramas, before the descent to Dörfel begins.The route then runs through the Zschopau Valley along nature trails, past the Schlettau natural swimming pool to Schlettau Castle.The return route takes you uphill along an avenue with views stretching as far as the Fichtelberg.Finally, the Teufelskanzel offers a last spectacular view of Annaberg before the tour ends at the starting point.

A leisurely walk with fascinating panoramic views and the enchantment of fairy tales This varied circular walk starts at the car park below the Pöhlberg. A short climb leads to the ‘Butterfässer’, a striking basalt formation by the side of the path. Hikers then follow the middle Pöhlberg circular trail, which delights families in particular with its little fairy-tale stations. After just a few steps, sweeping views open up over fields, villages and the ridges of the Ore Mountains as far as Keilberg and Fichtelberg. This panorama accompanies much of the walk and repeatedly invites you to pause and take it all in. About halfway along the route, sure-footed hikers may wish to take a detour to the historic St. Briccius treasure trove. The route continues through peaceful mixed woodland, past old clay pits, a former quarry and the former site of the ski jump. You eventually return to the starting point via the old bobsleigh track.

A hike through the Ore Mountains forest and deep silence to the moor and nature reserve "Kleiner Kranichsee". The Henneberg/Oberjugel circular trail begins in Johanngeorgenstadt with its Christmas pyramid, exile procession and the largest free-standing Schwibbogen. Passing the Pferdegöpel, a technical monument to mining, the trail leads into the forest, while the natural swimming pool shimmers through the trees on the right. Along the Henneberg wing, the trail leads deep into the quiet Ore Mountain forest to the Kleiner Kranichsee high moor, one of the best-preserved moors in the low mountain range. A platform offers impressive views of the sensitive moor landscape. New to the route is a nature trail with rare moorland plants. The trail continues to the edge of the Oberjugel forest with sweeping views. It descends via the old bobsleigh run to the romantic Lehmer Grund valley and finally back to the starting point.

Circular walk with many attractive viewpoints through the idyllic, rocky Steinbach Valley in the town of Schwibbogen: Johanngeorgenstadt. The circular hike through the Steinbach Valley begins with an impressive ensemble consisting of a procession of exiles, a large pyramid and the world's largest free-standing Schwibbogen. After a short section through the village, the trail leads downhill into nature, past the edge of the forest and across a meadow with beautiful views of Rabenberg, Fichtelberg and Plattenberg. Soon the path plunges into the forest and reaches the idyllic Steinbach Valley, where it is accompanied by the splashing of the stream. Then the imposing Teufelssteine (Devil's Stones) rise up before the path climbs, crosses a road and leads back into dense forest. At the edge of the village, wide views open up. The way back passes the natural swimming pool and the horse-drawn galley, a gem of technical history and a fitting end to the tour.

The Zwönitz Panorama Trail leads along scenic paths around the mountain town of Zwönitz, combining nature experiences with little cultural discoveries. From the market square, the route passes Blasius Church to the old Stollberg Railway, accompanied by sweeping views over Zwönitz and the Geyerschen Wald. Via Niederzwönitz, the tour leads up to the Galgenspitze and on to the Hammerteich with its waterfall. Along the way, walkers encounter legendary sites such as the ‘Headless Horseman’, enjoy views stretching as far as the Zwickau region, and reach the ‘Zwönitzblick’ viewing tower via Kühnhaide. A particular highlight is the Fuchsbrunn Bridge, an impressive relic of the former railway line to Scheibenberg, before the trail leads back to Zwönitz, passing traces of the town’s mining history.

A border walk steeped in history. This historic hike starts at the market square in Horní Blatná (Platten) by St. Laurentius Church. The trail initially heads towards Breitenbach before turning off into the forest. In dry weather, it’s worth taking a detour to the old cobalt mill, a silent testament to mining. The route continues through the Ore Mountains forest towards Oberjugel. It was here that Protestant exiles from Platten found refuge in 1653 after being driven out because of their faith. With the support of the Saxon Elector, Johanngeorgenstadt was later founded. Via Oberjugel, the route leads along the “Alte Bobbahn” into the Lehmer Grund. Passing the former ore-crushing plant, the path follows the Schwefelbach stream to Unterjugel. There it passes the Glöckl exhibition mine, which illustrates the history of mining. At the border, market stalls and restaurants invite you to round off the tour.

The mining trail covers 13.7 kilometres through the "Greifenstein area" and features over 30 stations with impressive evidence of historical mining as well as traces in nature, landscape and culture.