Discover Central Saxony

Red porphyry, collections in castles and underground experiences give Central Saxony its many facets. This mix is also useful when planning a trip: you can balance culture, landscape and active pursuits according to your interests, rather than focusing your stay on just one theme.

Porphyry landscapes and outdoor activities

At 353 metres high, Rochlitzer Berg is a remnant of volcanic activity. It contains red porphyry tuff, considered unique in Germany and Europe. The Porphyrland Geopark in Central Saxony invites visitors to hike and cycle. The Mulde Cycle Route also runs through the district. This gives you a choice of different ways to enjoy active days, from exploring the landscape to following a cycling route.

Those interested in seasonal activities will find well-maintained ski slopes and cross-country trails in the ridge area of the Ore Mountains in Central Saxony. The Mittelsächsischer Kultursommer offers a different seasonal focus: this three-month summer festival includes more than 40 events in Central Saxony; the specific programmes vary. The annual Historical Settlement Procession in the Striegis valleys adds a recurring tradition to the mix.

Castles, collections and history

At Rochsburg Castle, museum history meets fashion: the castle has housed a museum since 1911, and the “People Make Clothes” exhibition showcases 52 costumes spanning 1,000 years of European fashion history. Rochlitz Castle offers a different focus. On guided experience tours, visitors discover the history of the castle and its residents across several centuries. Lichtenwalde Castle and Park display exhibits from other cultures, along with porcelain, lacquerware, furniture and silk embroidery.

For a closer look at minerals, another trail leads to Freiberg: the terra mineralia exhibition at Freudenstein Castle presents more than 3,500 minerals, gemstones and meteorites. Augustusburg Castle houses a motorcycle museum. The collections can be distinguished by their subject matter—from European fashion history to minerals and motorcycles.

Underground and waterside experiences

A tour below ground at the “Reiche Zeche” teaching mine begins with a cage descent, usually via the “Reiche Zeche” shaft. The winding cage reaches the pit bottom at a depth of around 150 metres. The “Alte Hoffnung Erbstolln” visitor mine in Schönborn-Dreiwerden, in the municipality of Rossau, offers a different underground experience: visitors can travel by boat below ground. Sailing is possible at the Kriebstein Reservoir. These activities offer different experiences, from a trip into a mine to sailing.

The wider destination of Saxony also has its own mining heritage: the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region is a transboundary UNESCO cultural landscape comprising 22 sites across Saxony and the Czech Republic.

Use your interests to plan your trip

If you’re planning a family trip, it can help to decide on your shared priorities in advance: are you mainly interested in collections and castle history, mining, cycling and hiking, or a seasonal activity?

Please note the visitor conditions at Rochlitz Castle: the castle as a whole is not structurally accessible, but some highlights can be explored with just a few steps. You can take this limitation into account when planning, without overlooking the tours on offer or the castle’s history.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Frankenberg/Sachsen, Neuhausen/Erzgebirge, Brand-Erbisdorf, Niederwiesa, Erlau, Sayda, Mittweida, Augustusburg, Penig, Lunzenau, Leubsdorf, Hartmannsdorf, Großschirma, Freiberg, Frauenstein, Falkenau, Eppendorf, Döbeln, Burgstädt, Rossau, Waldheim, Frankenstein, Halsbrücke, Oederan, Reinsberg, Hartha, Mulda/Sachsen, Hilbersdorf, Oberschöna, Lichtenau, Ostrau, Claußnitz, Kriebstein, Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, Weißenborn/Erzgebirge, Bobritzsch, Großhartmannsdorf, Leisnig, Roßwein, Wechselburg, Rochlitz, Striegistal, Hainichen.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Saxony.