Chemnitz Guide

SIGHTSEEING IN THE SURROUNDING AREA
renovated Freudenstein Castle in the centre of town. This historical building
houses terra mineralia, probably the most beautiful display of minerals in the
world, a modern exhibition of the earth’s treasures presented by Freiberg
University of Mining and Technology.
Ore Mountains When Chemnitzers think of snow-capped mountains, Christmas
traditions and timehonoured craftsmanship, the first place that comes
to mind is the Erzgebirge. This recreational area is right on our doorstep
and Chemnitz has always been the gateway to the Ore Mountains for its
visitors. It is a part of south-western Saxony that visitors should not just
get to know in passing. „Take your time” is the region’s motto, and this is
what residents have been doing for centuries. It’s no wonder that traditional
hand carving was perfected here. Carving a traditional „Räuchermännchen”
incense smoker takes more than a steady hand – above all, it takes time. But
the Erzgebirge offer much more than traditional folk art – they also provide
fantastic for fun on the piste and extensive hiking. A voyage of discovery into
the mountains will also take you to more than 100 museums, historic mountain
towns with magnificent hall churches, imposing castles and palaces, and
numerous monuments.
The Saxon Central Mountains region is a great adventure for holidaymakers
who want to get out and about in the open air. This paradise for winter
sports fans has numerous prepared pistes and more than 70 drag and
chair lifts. More than 1000 kilometres of groomed crosscountry trails also
attract for cross-country skiers and ski hikers, with the 36-kilometre-long
crest trail being a particular gem. It follows the ridge from Johanngeorgenstadt
in the Erzgebirge to Schöneck in the Vogtland region. If you’re
a bit less steady on your skis, just go to one of the many ski schools. Hikers‘
and bikers‘ hearts, on the other hand, will be set racing by a welldeveloped
network of trails with a total length of 5000 kilometres. The
region around the Greifensteine rock formation at Ehrenfriedersdorf, for
example, provides for exceptional outdoor activities. Consisting of seven
granite rocks, it has developed an amazing appearance over the centuries
and enjoys great popularity among climbers. The Geyerische Teiche reservoirs
immediately nearby are also part of this extensive nature reserve and
guarantee swimming and camping fun for the whole family; and the idyllically
located natural amphitheatre, which first hosted performances more than
150 years ago, is now primarily a venue for numerous festivals and concerts.
And because tradition plays a major role in the Erzgebirge, visitors should
not miss the Christmas town of Seiffen, where centuries-old Erzgebirge
crafts have been preserved largely unchanged. Tip: The original Seiffen
Christmas in the festively decorated town centre conjures up a unique
Christmas atmosphere.
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