Harth-Pöllnitz: Wetlands and Village History

Wetlands, ponds and traces of history give Harth-Pöllnitz its many facets. At Lake Frießnitz, the focus is on nature observation and hiking; in Burkersdorf and Niederpöllnitz, buildings tell the story of the long history of individual localities. When planning your trip, it is worth comparing your options: would you like to spend most of your time outdoors, or also include historic places and culture in the wider Greiz destination?

Wetlands and wildlife watching at Lake Frießnitz

A landscape of species-rich wetlands stretches between Birkhausen, Sandberg, the Struth lowlands and Lake Frießnitz. It is protected as a nature reserve and a European Site of Community Importance under the Habitats Directive. Water buffalo graze the wet meadows by the lake to maintain them—a distinctive form of landscape management that offers a different perspective on observing local wildlife and plant life.

An observation tower and the “Brehm” circular trail, with information boards, have been set up at Lake Frießnitz so visitors can experience its diverse wildlife and plant life. The lower platform of the NABU observation tower is suitable for wheelchair users wishing to observe the lake.

Circular trails of different lengths

The signposted Lake Frießnitz circular hiking trail is about 20.3 kilometres long, with shorter options of 8.2 and 14.3 kilometres. This makes it possible to tailor your hiking plans to the time available, without treating the routes as outings of equal length. The trail passes through Struth and Großebersdorf, crosses Sandberg, follows the Lake Frießnitz area designated as a natural monument, and goes past the Waldflachmoor natural monument. The Burkersdorf ponds are also along the route; the circular trail connects back in Frießnitz.

The ponds are more than just a point on the circular trail: in Burkersdorf, a chain of ponds extends into the forest. When choosing a route, you can match its stated length with the stops mentioned for it, and check the route and signage locally before setting off. The “Brehm” circular hiking trail, with information boards, is another visitor attraction at the lake; the distances of 20.3, 14.3 and 8.2 kilometres apply to the Lake Frießnitz circular hiking trail.

Historical traces in Burkersdorf and Niederpöllnitz

Burkersdorf is documented as a manor village as early as 1209. The village is home to a castle and a church, which stands above the village green. The combination of the historic village designation, castle and church offers a different focus from wildlife watching at the lake: here, attention turns to the village’s history and its buildings.

In Niederpöllnitz, the tower of the former moated castle is thought to date from the time of the witness Gottschalk von Polniz, who was mentioned in a document in 1238. Together with the historical records of Burkersdorf, the tower offers another way to explore the history of these localities.

Culture in the wider Greiz destination

The wider Greiz destination offers its own cultural focus, complementing Harth-Pöllnitz’s natural and local history. Since 2010, the Upper Castle in Greiz has housed the permanent exhibition “From the Land of the Vogts to the Principality of Reuss Elder Line.” It covers the history of the Vogts, lords, imperial counts and imperial princes of Reuss, as well as the associated culture of small-state princely residences. The museum in the Upper Castle also offers a multimedia history experience, with a computer-animated account of the building’s history and an interactive journey through time.

The Lower Castle in Greiz houses a museum and a textile demonstration workshop. Established in 1998, the workshop presents the production and history of Greiz’s textile industry; children and adults can take part in the manual production process. The Summer Palace in Greiz adds its own architectural distinction: built as the summer residence of the princes of the Reuss Elder Line, it is among the earliest Neoclassical buildings in Central Germany.

Shape your stay around your interests

When looking for a place to stay in Harth-Pöllnitz, the mix of experiences you want may help you decide: the trails at Lake Frießnitz offer a clear choice between about 20.3 kilometres and the shorter options, while Burkersdorf and Niederpöllnitz offer a different focus through their historical traces. If you would also like to include culture, you can consider Greiz as a separate destination within the wider travel region. Choose a place to stay in Harth-Pöllnitz to suit whether nature, village history or culture in Greiz will shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Auma-Weidatal, Endschütz, Greiz, Hain, Zadelsdorf, Schwarzbach, Moschwitz, Großebersdorf.

Back to the wider travel overview: Greiz.