Hirschfeld: Hiking the Way of St. James and a circular trail

Hiking can shape the day’s plans during a stay in Hirschfeld. The Vogtland section of the Way of St. James passes through the town, while the Hirschfeld Circular Hike is a loop. This gives you a choice between a longer route and a hike with a fixed start and finish.

Way of St. James or circular hike?

The Vogtland section of the Way of St. James runs from Zwickau to Hof and passes through Hirschfeld along the way. The route continues via Kirchberg towards the Ore Mountains. The local section is a historic salt route and long-distance hiking trail. The Hirschfeld Circular Hike offers a different route format: it starts and ends in the Tierpark/Minigolf area, covers 17.66 kilometres and is rated easy. This distinguishes a loop from a trail that connects Hirschfeld to a longer route. Maintenance and trail markings on the Way of St. James may change; check local conditions before setting out.

Woodlands, meadows and points of interest along the loop

The Hirschfeld Circular Hike passes through woodland and across meadows to the Lochmühle mill. It then follows a stream to the Rinnelsbrunnen spring. The route also includes a viewpoint overlooking the Ore Mountains, nature information boards and benches. The loop can therefore be described by more than just its length: its points of interest link different types of landscape with insights into nature and a view towards the Ore Mountains.

For planning, the distance and stated difficulty are two different points of reference: the loop is 17.66 kilometres long and is rated easy. Check trail markings and conditions locally. This keeps the circular hike distinct from the longer Way of St. James route without assuming the same time plan for both trails.

Hiking and landscapes in Zwickau District

For regional context, it is worth looking at Zwickau District. It lies between the valley of the Zwickauer Mulde and the foothills of the Ore Mountains. The Mulden- und Chemnitztal Landscape Protection Area covers, at its core, the course of the Zwickauer Mulde between Zwickau and Wolkenburg and spans approximately 4,348 hectares. At district level, 14 FFH sites and two bird sanctuaries are currently designated, covering a combined area of around 2,200 hectares.

The district’s marked hiking network is also extensive: around 700 kilometres can be explored on foot, and the network includes many rest stops and places to eat. This figure describes the regional trail network, not the Hirschfeld Circular Hike. Another regional route is the Muldendamm in the city of Zwickau. It is a place for walking, cycling, jogging, hiking and relaxing; the section there is part of the 268-kilometre long-distance Mulde Cycle Route.

Zwickau District has a varied cultural offering. The German Agricultural Museum at Blankenhain Castle is a museum complex unique in Germany, with 80 buildings and 100 themed exhibitions across 13 hectares. The August Horch Museum stands on the historic birthplace of Audi and presents more than 120 years of Zwickau automotive history across 6,500 square metres. English-language tours, including guided tours in person, are also available there, as is an audio guide.

Discover more destinations: Reinsdorf, Neukirchen/Pleiße, Gersdorf, Zwickau, Kirchberg, Limbach-Oberfrohna, Mülsen, Lichtentanne.

Back to the main travel overview: Zwickauer Land.