Erla: Hiking Trails and the History of Ironworking

In Erla, hiking trails meet the history of ironworking. The Eisenhüttensteig trail leads from the village over the Hohes Rad ridge to Pöhla; an exhibition at Herrenhof Erlahammer tells the story of working with iron. There are also other routes through the landscape, including a circular trail and a 14.8-kilometre day hike. This lets you plan your stay around what interests you most: getting out on the trails, exploring regional history, or combining both.

Hiking Historic Trails

The Eisenhüttensteig trail leads from Erla over the Hohes Rad ridge to the district of Pöhla. Information boards along the trail cover iron ore mining, iron production and processing, and the history of old transport and stagecoach routes. These themes provide a historical backdrop to the hike: alongside the landscape, you’ll also encounter the region’s working history. Sections and trail markings may change, so check the current route before setting out.

The Erla-Crandorf circular trail begins and ends at Herrenhof Erlahammer. Its route crosses the historic Drachenleithe and offers views of the Pöhlwassertal valley. Visibility depends on the weather. The Rother Berg, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region, is also on the circular trail. The route therefore combines a distinctive stretch of trail with a place that is part of the World Heritage Site.

The “Wanderbarer Silberberg” day hike offers a different route: it leads from Erla via Pöhla to Schwarzenberg and is 14.8 kilometres long. This makes it easy to distinguish from the Erla-Crandorf loop: one is a circular trail, while the other passes between several towns. For the “W@nderbaren Silberberg,” Erla, Karlsbader Straße stop is recommended as a suitable starting or finishing point. If you plan to use this option, check current transport connections before your hike; local transport arrangements may change.

Ironworking at Herrenhof Erlahammer

Herrenhof Erlahammer is a key element of the Rother Berg mining landscape and is therefore part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region. The building complex offers individual visitor experiences for people of all ages. The exhibition “From the Oldest Ironworks to the Modern Age” gives an impression of ironworking in the nearby Rother Berg mining landscape.

Highlights include a manor hall, a historic black kitchen and a well-preserved domestic well. You can explore the exhibition on a discovery tour with the audio guide. It covers, among other things, iron production, the importance of cast iron and the production history of “Made in Erla.” The exhibition also follows a workpiece from its design through to the finished product. This gives you insight into both specific features of the building and the individual stages of production.

Choose Erla as a Place to Stay

When looking for accommodation in Erla, consider which of the village’s attractions you’d like to shape your stay around. If hiking is your main interest, you can plan around the different routes: the trail over Hohes Rad to Pöhla, the Erla-Crandorf loop, or the day hike to Schwarzenberg. If you’re particularly interested in the history of iron, you can make a visit to the exhibition at the Herrenhof the focus of your stay. You can also combine these interests, though the hiking trails do not all follow the same route or have the same character.

For reference at Herrenhof Erlahammer: the outdoor area has around 40 parking spaces, including two accessible parking spaces.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pöhla.

Go to the main travel overview: Schwarzenberg/Erzgebirge.