Trails that shape Crottendorf

The Zschopau Valley cycling and hiking trail passes through Crottendorf along a former railway line beside the young Zschopau. Signposted connections lead to local hiking destinations and sights. This gives you two aspects to consider when planning: the trail’s route through the town and its connections to other local destinations. You can use these trail connections for orientation when exploring Crottendorf on foot or by bike.

Near Liebenstein, the Otto Peuschel Höhenweg runs for approximately two kilometres. It offers views towards Crottendorf, Fichtelberg, Bärenstein, Schmiedeberger Spitzberg and the Erzgebirge ridge. This adds a scenic perspective to the trail through Crottendorf. How clearly the views can be seen depends on the weather and vegetation. If the views are an important reason for your choice, take this into account when planning.

The Incense Cone Land: see it and make your own

The Crottendorf Incense Cone Land offers a different focus. The museum is housed in a 15-metre-high replica of an incense cone; in workshops, you can make traditional Erzgebirge incense cones yourself. This brings together two different ways of engaging with the craft: the museum in its striking replica and hands-on making in a workshop. Advance booking may be required for workshops. If you want to make taking part a firm part of your plans, check booking requirements in advance.

The local attractions can be clearly distinguished: the Zschopau Valley cycling and hiking trail passes through Crottendorf, the Höhenweg offers views, and the Incense Cone Land combines a museum and workshops. When planning your stay, consider whether you would rather spend your time on the trails and views or on Erzgebirge crafts.

Hiking and cultural perspectives in the Erzgebirgskreis

The wider destination of Erzgebirgskreis has a signposted hiking network of around 4,500 kilometres. Panoramic trails around the mining towns of Schneeberg, Schwarzenberg and Zwönitz offer views of their historic town centres. One specific example is the Schwarzenberg Panorama Trail: this circular hike runs along the heights around Schwarzenberg, covers 13.8 kilometres and takes about four hours and five minutes. Compared with the approximate length of the Otto Peuschel Höhenweg, these trails represent different scales for planning a hike. Fichtelberg near Oberwiesenthal is 1,215 metres high and the highest mountain in Saxony.

Cultural attractions are also part of the Erzgebirgskreis. The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. Seiffen is considered the cradle of Erzgebirge folk art. In Kurort Seiffen, the Erzgebirge Open-Air Museum showcases historic buildings and workshops from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its centrepiece is the original, well-preserved Preißler turning mill, powered by water. These regional examples complement Crottendorf’s local trails and crafts with further perspectives on the Erzgebirge.

Discover more destinations

Walthersdorf, Bad Schlema, Königswalde, Lengefeld, Zschopau, Krumhermersdorf, Bockau, Jahnsdorf/Erzgebirge

Back to the main travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.