Grimma: Culture and Trails on the Mulde

Grimma lies on the Mulde and is surrounded by gentle hills. The town’s history, museums and views of its bridges sit alongside trails through the river landscape. This makes it easy to shape your stay in different ways: spend time exploring historic buildings and exhibitions, or focus on hiking.

Town History in Museums and Historic Buildings

The Grimma Museum’s collection has its roots in the 1900 antiquities exhibition and has continued to develop to the present day. Wilhelm Ostwald Park offers a different perspective on cultural history: Haus Energie, the rooms where Wilhelm Ostwald worked, houses a permanent exhibition about his life and work.

History is also visible in the townscape at the town wall. The surviving section of wall dates from the first third of the 13th century; small garden houses remain on top of it. The Augustinian Hermits’ Monastery Church is part of a tour of Grimma. Built around 1430, it retains its historic tracery windows. Martin Luther preached in the church several times.

Important for your plans: the Göschenhaus Museum is closed for renovation work, which is expected to continue until 2027. This visitor information dates from 2026. Check the latest status before visiting.

Views of Bridges and Trails along the Mulde

The Stone Mulde Bridge, also known as the Pöppelmann Bridge, is a landmark of Grimma. Crossing it on foot offers views of the old town skyline, the Gothic gable of the castle, the monastery church and St. Augustine’s Grammar School. The Grimma suspension bridge provides another crossing over the river: it spans 80 metres over the Mulde and connects the town area with the town park on the opposite bank.

If you’re planning a longer hike, the Grimma Way of Stones is a themed route covering 8.29 kilometres and rated as easy. It starts at the Pöppelmann Bridge, passes through Rabenstein and Höfgen, and continues along the Mulde to Förstgen. Along the way are 28 stone features, including trail markers, stone seats, information boards and sculptures. Check the latest route information and conditions before setting out.

The Schiffmühle Höfgen technical museum complex makes for a cultural stop of its own. Its exhibitions cover hydropower and the environment, the mill’s history and use, and the cultural history of Central European river mills. A guided tour lasts around 45 minutes and can be booked during opening hours or by arrangement. As seasonal opening and booking arrangements may change, it’s a good idea to check before making plans.

Choose Grimma as Your Base

Grimma is a base for trips to the wider Leipzig region, including Leipzig, Torgau and the Leipzig Neuseenland lake district. In the wider Leipzig District destination, the Leipzig Neuseenland comprises 22 new lakes with a total water surface area of 70 km². This lets you look beyond Grimma’s town history and the Mulde landscape to explore other destinations in the region.

From Leipzig, take a train or S-Bahn to Borsdorf, then continue to Grimma station on regional train RB110. Check the timetable before travelling. When looking for accommodation in Grimma, it helps to decide on your main focus first: museums and historic buildings offer a different experience from a longer hike along the Way of Stones. That way, you can shape your stay around the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Markranstädt, Threna, Neukieritzsch, Brandis, Kohren-Sahlis, Leipzig, Bennewitz, Groitzsch.

Back to the main travel overview: Leipzig District.