Discover Pockau

Pockau has several distinct facets: historic milling technology, a museum focusing on local history, and two 4-km short hiking trails leading to different viewpoints. This brings culture and specific outdoor destinations together. You can plan your stay around whether you would rather learn about technological history, visit exhibitions, or choose a hike with a particular viewpoint as your destination.

Historic milling technology at the oil mill

At the Pockau Oil Mill Technical Museum, an old watermill dating from 1783 is still fully operational with its historic machinery. The focus is therefore not just on the age of the building: the museum also demonstrates oil-production technology from several centuries using functioning equipment. A visit offers a look at both a specific mill and technical processes spanning several centuries. Those interested in how things work and in the history of technology will find a clear thematic focus here.

The museum reopened on May 16, 2026, and is open on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for guided tours. Check the opening hours before your visit so you can plan your guided museum visit accordingly.

Insights into local history and ways of life

The Electorate’s Official Fisheries Museum offers a different focus. Its exhibitions cover local history, ways of life, lace-making, and model railways. The topics thus range from the history of the town and everyday life to crafts and model railways. The museum building itself is also historically significant: it has been a protected monument since 1953. Unlike the oil mill, where historic, functioning technology and oil production are central, the Official Fisheries Museum offers a broader look at local history and ways of life.

Two short hiking trails, two viewpoints

Pockau offers a choice of two short hiking trails, each 4 km long. The first starts at the oil mill and follows a forest path and the Zöppelsteig trail to Vollebene, with its viewpoint, before returning. The second starts at the railway crossing on Marienberger Straße, runs via Schützenhöhe to the Mertensberg viewpoint, and then returns as well. Both trails have the same stated length; they differ in their starting points and destinations. You can choose whether you would rather hike from the oil mill to Vollebene or from the railway crossing on Marienberger Straße to Mertensberg.

The landscape of the Saidenbach Reservoir

The landscape of the Saidenbach Reservoir lies northeast of Pockau-Lengefeld. It includes a dam that visitors can walk along, a nature trail, numerous paths for walks by the water, and a landscape conservation area covering about 4,500 ha. The “Pockau - discover a paradise” route follows an uphill nature trail to the accessible top of the dam. This gives it a different focus from the two short hiking trails: here, the route leads to the dam, while the local trails lead to Vollebene and Mertensberg, respectively.

Discover more destinations

Niederwürschnitz, Marienberg, Dorfchemnitz, Sehmatal, Burkhardtsdorf, Drebach, Heidersdorf, Grünhain-Beierfeld

See the main travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.