Seiffen/Erzgeb.: Toys and folk art

Toys and folk art shape Seiffen

Seiffen/Erzgeb. is closely connected with Ore Mountain folk art and woodworking. Two museums present this tradition from different perspectives: the Toy Museum is dedicated to toys and folk art across three floors, while the open-air museum takes visitors into historic houses and workshops. This lets you discover exhibition themes and craft traditions as different facets of the town.

Two museums, two approaches to craftsmanship

The traditions of toys and folk art are among the subjects featured at the Ore Mountain Toy Museum. A large, five-tiered pyramid makes a striking focal point. A notice dated August 15 reported that the Toy Museum would be closed until mid-September and recommended the open-air museum as an alternative. As that period has now passed, please check the current status before your visit.

The Ore Mountain Open-Air Museum presents historic buildings and workshops from the 19th and early 20th centuries, reconstructing historic houses and workspaces. At its center is the original, well-preserved Preißler lathe workshop, powered by water. Hoop turning is demonstrated here—a traditional technique for making small wooden figures—and visitors can also work with wood themselves.

Hoop turning offers two different ways to experience craftsmanship: watching a demonstration and working with wood yourself. If you enjoy hands-on activities, the open-air museum offers the chance to work with wood alongside its reconstructed workshops. The historic buildings and demonstrations of the technique provide different points of interest during your visit.

Neinerlaa and Neunerlei

Christmas cuisine also offers a glimpse into a regional tradition associated with Seiffen: Neinerlaa, also called Neunerlei, is an Ore Mountain Christmas meal consisting of nine dishes with symbolic significance. The number is part of the custom, and the dishes have symbolic meanings. Woodcraft and festive food culture thus stand side by side as two distinct cultural themes.

Erzgebirgskreis: trails and cultural context

The signposted hiking trail network in the Erzgebirgskreis covers around 4,500 kilometres. The cultural context extends beyond Seiffen, too: the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. Seiffen is regarded as the cradle of Ore Mountain folk art.

For a specific day hike, the Schwarzenberg Panorama Trail is a circular route along the heights around Schwarzenberg: it is 13.8 kilometres long and takes about 4 hours and 5 minutes. Panorama trails around Schneeberg, Schwarzenberg and Zwönitz offer views of historic town centres. Fichtelberg near Oberwiesenthal is 1,215 metres high and the highest mountain in Saxony. Regional plans in the Erzgebirgskreis therefore offer a choice of different themes: a hike with a stated distance and duration, trails with town panoramas, and a distinctive mountain.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

If Seiffen’s traditions of toys and folk art, as well as its workshops, are your main focus, the museums offer concrete ideas for planning your trip. If you would also like to go hiking, you can consider whether a circular route with a stated duration or panorama trails overlooking historic town centres better suit your plans. This way, your search can reflect the kind of stay you want: culture and craftsmanship in Seiffen, or regional hiking destinations as a separate focus for your planning.

Discover more destinations: Borstendorf, Oberwiesenthal, Pfaffroda, Thum, Burkhardtsdorf, Amtsberg, Heidersdorf, Crottendorf.

Go to the regional travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.