Bockau Between Forest Trails and Mining History

Get to know Bockau through its Baroque hall church, the wooded landscapes of the nature park, and a mining and herbalist trail. The Mulde Cycle Path also passes directly by the town. These varied themes give you concrete starting points for planning your trip—whether you are more interested in local history, longer hikes or cycling routes.

Baroque Hall Church and Local History

A prominent landmark in Bockau is the Baroque hall church, with its 41-metre-high tower. The church dates from 1637; its altar was consecrated as early as 1617. It also contains a painting from the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder. The dates refer to different elements and give the church several points of historical interest. Its architecture and art history can therefore be explored through specific features, rather than reducing the town’s history to a single year.

Forest Landscapes and Trails Around Bockau

Bockau provides access to the nature park’s wooded landscapes, with natural streams and biotopes. There are established trails in the surrounding area for hiking, horseback riding and cycling. For hikes, the visitor guide also lists Morgenleithe and Auersberg as destinations in the surrounding forest. The different activities offer different ways to explore: you can discover the landscape on foot, ride along the trails or plan a cycling tour. The information about nature and trails describes several options, not a single prescribed route.

Mining Hike and Cycle Path

The “Mining and Herbalist Traditions” hike starts in the centre of Bockau. It is 11.7 kilometres long and takes around three to four hours. Along the way, the route connects the Vitriol Oil Hut, the Friede-Gottes adit, a mining educational trail, Gretels Ruh, the herbalist garden and the Bockau root cellar. The estimated duration lets you plan this hike as a half-day activity. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

For cyclists, the Mulde Cycle Path is another specific point of interest: it passes directly by Bockau and follows the former Aue–Wolfsgrün railway line. Local construction or forestry work may affect access. So check for possible local restrictions before setting out on a ride.

Erzgebirgskreis: Hiking and Mining Culture

Beyond Bockau, the Erzgebirgskreis provides a broader regional context. Its signposted hiking network covers around 4,500 kilometres. One specific hiking option is the Schwarzenberg Panorama Trail: this 13.8-kilometre circular hike follows the heights around Schwarzenberg and takes about four hours and five minutes. By comparison, the Bockau hike, at 11.7 kilometres and approximately three to four hours, is somewhat shorter; both time estimates help you gauge the length of a tour. Panorama trails around the mining towns of Schneeberg, Schwarzenberg and Zwönitz offer views of their historic town centres.

The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region is also part of this regional context: it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. Seiffen is considered the birthplace of Erzgebirge folk art. The Seiffen Open-Air Museum of the Ore Mountains features historic buildings and workshops from the 19th and early 20th centuries. At its centre is the preserved original Preißler turning workshop, powered by water, in the spa town of Seiffen. These examples broaden Bockau’s themes to include regional mining and craft history without treating the different places and their offerings as if they were the same.

Discover more destinations: Crottendorf, Amtsberg, Mildenau, Großrückerswalde, Schwarzenberg/Erzgebirge, Pobershau, Großolbersdorf, Lugau.

For the regional travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.