Discover Zschopau: Castle, Mining and Trails

Zschopau appeals to different travel interests with garden views, traces of medieval mining, vehicle history, and walking and cycling routes. When planning together, you can organize your days by theme and timeframe: from the castle garden to an underground tour and longer stretches of trail.

Gardens, Views and Hiking Trails

The castle garden includes a courtyard, a Baroque garden, a rose garden, and a pergola area. From there, views open up over the Zschopense, the bridges in Zschopau, and the landscape to the east, south, and west. Designed garden spaces alternate with expansive views.

There are also hikes to suit different timeframes: the Bodemerweg is described as a one-hour hike. A two-hour circular hike leads from Wildeck Castle to Villa Wilisch. These options help you decide whether a shorter walk or a longer loop fits your day better. The Wurzelweg leads into the side valleys of the Zschopau and former mining areas. Riverside paths along the Zschopau lead to the visitor mine and the Teufelskanzel.

Mining History Underground

The Holy Trinity Mine visitor mine preserves untouched traces of medieval silver mining. Underground, there are around 250 meters of secured footpaths. The approximately 45-minute guided tours cover mining, geology, mineralogy, and Erzgebirge traditions. This offers a distinct perspective on themes that also shape the region’s landscape history. Check the current access and tour arrangements before your visit.

Wildeck Castle and the Protected Old Town

Wildeck Castle is a Renaissance castle with museums dedicated to regional industrial history, particularly Saxon vehicle manufacturing. The exhibits include DKW and MZ motorcycles, enduro bikes, and racing motorcycles. The exhibitions thus offer a different focus from the preserved traces of medieval silver mining.

The protected old town retains its medieval street plan. Its historic heritage includes townhouses from the second half of the 18th century in a simple Baroque style, sections of the late-medieval town wall built in 1495, Wildeck Castle, and St. Martin’s Church. The tourist information office is located at the museum counter in Wildeck Castle, in the historic old town center.

Getting There and Choosing Accommodation

The Erzgebirgsbahn stops at two locations within the city limits of Zschopau. Zschopau station provides access to the city center and Wildeck Castle. From there, the route crosses the Zschopau bridge and continues via steps to the castle, garden, and historic old town. Public transport serves the entire city of Zschopau as well as Krumhermersdorf.

You can therefore tailor your search to the kind of days you have planned and compare accommodation locations against your plans. For specific arrangements, check timetables, tour details, and local trail conditions; the tourist information office location may also change.

Cycling Routes and the Wider Erzgebirgskreis

The Zschopau Valley Cycle Route stretches for 137 kilometers through the Zschopau Valley and passes through Zschopau between Oberwiesenthal and the area near Döbeln. From the source of the Zschopau to Flöha, it is continuously signposted along 82 kilometers. These details describe different aspects of the route: its extent through the valley and the continuously signposted section.

The Erzgebirgskreis has a signposted hiking network of around 4,500 kilometers. The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. Seiffen is considered the birthplace of Erzgebirge folk art. The Erzgebirge Open-Air Museum in Kurort Seiffen showcases historic buildings and workshops from the 19th and early 20th centuries. At its center is the original Preißler lathe workshop, preserved with its water-powered drive.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Grünhain-Beierfeld, Krumhermersdorf, Bockau, Lengefeld, Großrückerswalde, Olbernhau, Jöhstadt, Marienberg

Back to the regional travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.