Discover Eibenstock

Eibenstock brings together topics such as mining history and Erzgebirge folk art, as well as hiking and cycling trails and bathing and sauna experiences. When planning your trip, you can choose from cultural sights, routes of varying lengths and water-based activities.

Mining history and art in Eibenstock

The Schatzhaus Erzgebirge in Eibenstock explores local settlement history, tin and iron ore mining, traditional crafts and Erzgebirge folk art. Demonstrations on historic embroidery machines round out the exhibits. Both the history of mining and traditional craft techniques are therefore at the heart of the museum.

In the market square, the sculpture park features life-size wooden figures of historical people who lived and worked there during the time of Clara Angermann and the famine of 1770 to 1772. The figures were created for the Clara Angermann anniversary in 2025 and stand around the walk-through tin caterpillar sculpture. Information panels tell their stories.

Bathing gardens and sauna experiences

The Badegärten Eibenstock include a family bathing area with a 106-metre water slide, a heated outdoor pool and water play features for children. Check the current opening hours before your visit.

The sauna facilities include themed areas inspired by Russian, Finnish, Eibenstock beer-bath, Italian, Indian, Japanese and Oriental traditions. The bathing area and sauna offer different experiences: water play and an outdoor pool take centre stage in one area, while the other focuses on saunas with themed designs.

Hiking trails and views from the Auersberg

The Auersberg is 1,018 metres high. A stone observation tower, built in 1860, stands at its summit and offers views towards the Vogtland and the Bohemian Erzgebirge. There are more than 400 kilometres of marked hiking and nature trails around the Auersberg, including the Kammweg.

The mining educational trail passes through a historic mining landscape. Mining relics and information panels explore its history. The trail is 1.5 kilometres long and takes about an hour to walk.

Wurzelrudi’s fairy-tale trail in Eibenstock offers a different kind of outing: fairy-tale houses and wooden figures line the route, and QR codes let you listen to or read the stories. The leaflet for Wurzelrudi’s Fairy-Tale Trail includes a map of Eibenstock and a small prize draw. As leaflet availability may vary, it is advisable to enquire in advance.

Wurzelrudi’s Gerstenberg circular trail is a family-friendly route on comfortable forest paths, suitable for pushchairs and children’s bikes. The route is 10 kilometres long, or 8 kilometres from the Badegärten car park. As trail conditions can change with the seasons, check the current situation before setting out. Wurzelrudi’s Water Educational Trail is 4.5 kilometres long, measured from the hiking car park on the B 283.

Cycling routes and longer trails

The Sosa Reservoir Loop cycling route connects to Eibenstock via around two kilometres of the Auersbergrunde. The Carlsfeld Reservoir Loop is a separate route: it starts in Carlsfeld, crosses the dam crest of Germany’s highest drinking-water reservoir and continues along the Erzgebirge ridge towards the German-Czech border.

The 40.5-kilometre Three Reservoirs Hiking Trail is also connected with Eibenstock. It combines forest walks with views of reservoirs, natural features and churches, and can be completed as a two- to three-day hiking or pilgrimage route.

The Auersberg Nature and Activity Garden has seven stations with practical activities and quiz questions. Children can take part in donkey trekking; adults lead the animals, and no riding experience is required. As arrangements may change, it is advisable to enquire about the current opportunities to take part.

Kunsthof and regional context

At Kunsthof Eibenstock, the Kunsthaus hosts concerts, dance, yoga, seminars, talks, exhibitions and creative courses. The Kunstcafé serves single-origin coffees, chocolate specialities, drinking chocolate, tea and ice cream. The ice cream is supplied by Café Richter in Sosa. Programmes and food and drink offerings may change; check the latest information in advance.

The wider travel destination of the Erzgebirgskreis has around 4,500 kilometres of signposted hiking trails. The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. This regional context complements Eibenstock’s specific trails and cultural attractions with a broader landscape and cultural framework.

Discover more destinations: Wildenthal, Carlsfeld, Weitersglashütte, Bärenstein, Mildenau, Großrückerswalde, Lengefeld, Thum

Back to the main travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.