Central Saxony: Porphyry, Castles and Mining

Rochlitz Hill, at 353 metres high, is a remnant of volcanic activity and contains red porphyry tuff, considered unique in Germany and Europe. In Central Saxony, these geological features are complemented by castles, mines and cultural events. Outdoor activities range from hiking and cycling to winter sports and sailing.

Geology, Trails and Winter Sports

The Porphyrland Geopark in Central Saxony invites visitors to go hiking and cycling. The Mulde Cycle Route also passes through the district. This means that both hiking and cycling opportunities in the geopark and a regional cycling route can feature in your travel plans. In the ridge area of the Ore Mountains in Central Saxony, there are excellently groomed ski slopes and cross-country trails. If you are planning a winter visit, it is advisable to check the latest conditions.

Castles, Museums and Exhibitions

Rochsburg Castle has housed a museum since 1911. The exhibition “People Make Clothes” showcases 52 costumes from 1,000 years of European fashion history. In Freiberg, the terra mineralia exhibition at Freudenstein Castle presents more than 3,500 minerals, gemstones and meteorites. There is a choice of different exhibition topics: European fashion history on the one hand, and minerals, gemstones and meteorites on the other.

Lichtenwalde Castle and Park now display artefacts from foreign cultures, as well as porcelain, lacquerware, furniture and silk embroidery. Augustusburg Castle houses a motorcycle museum. Rochlitz Castle offers guided experiences where visitors can learn about the history of the castle and its residents over several centuries. Important for planning your visit: Rochlitz Castle is not structurally accessible throughout; however, some highlights can be explored with just a few steps.

Mining Underground and on the Water

The way each experience begins also distinguishes these two mining attractions. Underground tours at the “Reiche Zeche” educational mine in Freiberg start with a shaft ride, usually down the “Reiche Zeche” shaft. The mine cage reaches the shaft bottom at a depth of around 150 metres. At the “Alte Hoffnung Erbstolln” visitor mine in Schönborn-Dreiwerden, in the municipality of Rossau, visitors can instead travel underground by boat.

The Kriebstein Reservoir offers another activity: sailing. Together with hiking, cycling and the mining experiences mentioned above, it offers a range of options for different interests, though not all the activities are of the same kind.

Recurring Events

The Central Saxony Cultural Summer is a three-month summer festival featuring more than 40 events in Central Saxony. The festival takes place every year, but the individual programmes vary. So if you want to plan your trip around a particular event, check the programme for that year. The “Historic Settlement Procession” in the Striegis valleys also takes place annually.

Discover more destinations: Waldheim, Rossau, Burgstädt, Döbeln, Eppendorf, Falkenau, Frauenstein, Freiberg, Großschirma, Hartmannsdorf, Leubsdorf, Lunzenau, Penig, Augustusburg, Mittweida, Sayda, Erlau, Niederwiesa, Brand-Erbisdorf, Kriebstein, Frankenberg/Sachsen, Frankenstein, Halsbrücke, Oederan, Reinsberg, Hartha, Mulda/Sachsen, Hilbersdorf, Oberschöna, Neuhausen/Erzgebirge, Lichtenau, Ostrau, Claußnitz, Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, Weißenborn/Erzgebirge, Bobritzsch, Leisnig, Roßwein, Großhartmannsdorf, Wechselburg, Rochlitz, Striegistal, Hainichen.

Go to the main travel overview: Saxony.