Wildenthal: Hiking and Local History

Wildenthal combines a distinctive valley setting with hiking trails, local history and options for a range of interests. Wildenthal and Oberwildenthal lie in the deeply cut valley of the Große Bockau at around 720 m above sea level, directly at the foot of the 1,018 m-high Auersberg. When planning your trip, you can choose between trails around the village, routes up the mountain and topics relating to Wildenthal’s history.

Landscape and Trails Around Wildenthal

Between Wildenthal and Eibenstock are valuable stands of mixed beech forest in the “Tal der Großen Bockau” Natura 2000 site. Another route passes through the village: the Graben branches off from the Große Bockau not far from Wildenthal cemetery and now runs as a path across meadows, past the Schwibbogen to the park and onwards.

Two routes of different lengths and formats are designated for hiking. The Dorfring is a 4.4 km loop around the village. The 8.9 km out-and-back hike leads from Wildenthal to the 1,018 m-high Auersberg and back. The two tours therefore differ in more than just length: the Dorfring stays on a loop around Wildenthal, while the longer hike has the mountain as its destination and returns to its starting point.

The Kammweg also leads to Wildenthal. On Stage 11 from Johanngeorgenstadt to Weitersglashütte, the descent follows the Schlangenweg for the next 2.5 kilometres into Wildenthal, which lies almost 300 metres lower. This places the village along the course of this longer stage. Hiking conditions depend on the season.

The Karlsroute passes through Wildenthal and Oberwildenthal. It climbs to the border at the pass and continues to Karlovy Vary, the Czech spa town of Karlsbad. The route offers a different perspective on the area from the circular trails and the hike up the Auersberg: it connects the two parts of the village with a destination beyond the border.

More Activities and Seasonal Options

The ski slope in Wildenthal, known as the “Rölzhang”, is just under 100 m long and not very steep. Its operation may vary depending on the season. If you plan to include it in your trip, check whether it is operating during the relevant season.

Near Wildenthal, the Natur-Aktiv-Garten Auersberg offers seven stations and seven puzzles. On the “Auf zur ersten Sommerfrische im Erzgebirge” tour between Eibenstock and Wildenthal, a Kneipp facility on an idyllic meadow is recommended as a short refreshing break during the descent through the Ehrethausbach valley. The tour description places this break along the route.

Local History at the Saafnlob House

The museum at the Saafnlob House in Wildenthal is a local history museum put together by the local heritage association. Topics covered there include Goethe and Charlotte von Stein’s coach journey through Wildenthal. There is also information about Stephan Dietrich, known as “Saafnlob”, who was an Erzgebirge poet. The museum’s themes thus range from a journey through the village to regional literary history.

The paths along the Graben add a specific route through the landscape to this perspective on the village. The Graben branches off from the Große Bockau near the cemetery; today, a path there crosses meadows through Wildenthal, passes the Schwibbogen on its way to the park, and continues onwards. This makes it possible to follow the route through the village using named landmarks, without confusing it with a longer-distance route.

The Wildenthal Hammerfest, held on the second weekend in August, commemorates the village’s long hammer-mill tradition. If you plan to visit during the festival, check that year’s programme. Together with the museum and the local trails, the event offers another way to explore the village’s history.

Discover more destinations: Weitersglashütte, Carlsfeld.

Back to the main travel overview: Eibenstock.