Discover Glashütte

For more than 180 years, Glashütte has been an important center of German watchmaking. This tradition gives the town a distinct cultural identity. At the same time, Märchenwiese Reinhardtsgrimma, in the municipality of Glashütte, offers a very different kind of experience: a play world based on ten well-known fairy tales, with climbing, slides, and free play. Families can therefore alternate between culture and active play without every activity having to follow the same pattern.

Watchmaking and architectural history

The German Watch Museum Glashütte offers guided tours in German and English that can be booked in advance. Audio guides are available in German, English, Czech, and Chinese, including a children’s audio guide. Advance booking is required for guided tours; booking arrangements and audio guide availability may change. Check both before your visit. Bus parking is available at the entrance. The museum also has accessible facilities, including an elevator and seating. If these features are important for your plans, check the current access conditions in advance.

Baroque Reinhardtsgrimma Castle was built between 1765 and 1767 in place of a medieval moated castle. The transition from its medieval predecessor to the Baroque castle makes the architectural history tangible through this contrast in periods. The castle also has an English-style park and a historic bathhouse; both are still considered worth seeing. Architectural history and watchmaking thus offer distinct cultural highlights.

Hiking and cycling

The town’s hiking suggestions include Glashütte and its districts, with far-reaching views and active recreation. In Schlottwitz, hikes are considered an opportunity to enjoy views towards the Eastern Ore Mountains, Saxon Switzerland, and the Müglitz Valley. For cyclists, the cycling option on the route from Glashütte can be extended downhill through the Müglitz Valley. The hiking and cycling options therefore cater to different ways of getting around. Check current route conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Local breaks and getting here

At its Bärenhecke location in Glashütte, Mühle und Bäckerei Bärenhecke offers fresh bread, rolls, cakes, and pastries. The current selection may vary; if you plan to shop there for a particular product, check what is available in advance. Several RVSOE bus routes serve Glashütte. Since operating details may change, it is advisable to check the transport operator’s current information before travelling.

More to discover in the wider destination of the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge District

Saxon Switzerland National Park is Saxony’s only national park and Germany’s only rocky national park. The Altenberg Mining Museum provides a comprehensive overview of the 550-year history of tin mining in Altenberg. Mining there began around 1440 and ended in 1991 when operations were closed. Osterzgebirge Wildlife Park also offers a walk in a natural setting in the district. Animals to see include native species such as fallow deer, red deer and mouflon, lynxes, wildcats, and raccoons, as well as non-native species such as cotton-top tamarins, coatis, meerkats, Asian small-clawed otters, and Bennett’s wallabies. The animal population may change; if you are planning your visit around particular species, check the current information in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Freital, Stadt Wehlen, Königstein, Bahretal, Müglitztal, Geising, Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach, Hohnstein.

Back to the main travel overview: Saxon Switzerland.