Mining history, themed trails and bathing facilities give a stay in Eibenstock a variety of highlights. The routes also differ considerably: a loop on the Mining History Trail takes about an hour, while the Three Dams Hiking Trail can be completed as a two- to three-day tour.
Mining history and crafts
The Erzgebirge Treasure House in Eibenstock explores the history of settlement, tin and iron ore mining, traditional crafts and Erzgebirge folk art. Demonstrations on historic embroidery machines complement the exhibition. The sculpture park at the market square offers a different perspective on the town’s history: life-size wooden figures portray people who lived and worked here during Clara Angermann’s time and the famine of 1770 to 1772. Created for the Clara Angermann anniversary in 2025, the figures are on display for visitors. They stand around the walk-through tin caterpillar; information boards tell their stories.
The Mining History Trail passes through a historic mining landscape. Mining remains and information boards explain the area’s history on site. The 1.5-kilometre route is estimated to take about an hour—a manageable amount of time for an outing with a clear historical focus.
Hiking and scenery
A stone observation tower, built in 1860, stands on the Auersberg at an elevation of 1,018 metres. From there, the view extends to the Vogtland region and the Bohemian Erzgebirge. The area around the Auersberg has more than 400 kilometres of marked hiking and nature trails, including the Ridge Trail.
For longer walks, the Wurzelrudis Gerstenberg Circular Trail offers a family-friendly loop along comfortable forest roads. Suitable for pushchairs and children’s bicycles, it is 10 kilometres long; the distance from the car park at the Badegärten is 8 kilometres. The Wurzelrudis Water Education Trail is 4.5 kilometres long from the hiking car park on the B 283. Conditions can change seasonally and route details may be revised, so check the latest route information before setting out.
If you have more time for a hike, you can tackle the Three Dams Hiking Trail, a 40.5-kilometre walking or pilgrimage route that takes two to three days. The route links forests, views of dams, natural features and churches. From Eibenstock, the Sosa Dam Loop connects via about two kilometres of the Auersberg Loop. The Carlsfeld Dam Loop starts in Carlsfeld: it crosses the crest of the dam at Germany’s highest drinking-water reservoir and continues towards the German-Czech border along the Erzgebirge ridge.
Water, fairy tales and activities
The Badegärten Eibenstock complex includes a family bathing area with a 106-metre water slide, a heated outdoor pool and water play features for children. It also offers themed sauna experiences inspired by Russian, Finnish, Eibenstock beer-bath, Italian, Indian, Japanese and Oriental traditions. As operating conditions can change, check the latest information before your visit.
Wurzelrudis Fairy-Tale Trail combines fairy-tale houses and wooden figures; QR codes let visitors listen to or read the stories. The leaflet for the fairy-tale trail includes a map of Eibenstock and a small prize draw. The Auersberg Nature Activity Garden also invites visitors to get involved: seven stations feature hands-on activities and quiz questions. Children can take part in donkey trekking in Eibenstock; adults lead the animals, and no riding experience is required. As arrangements for the activity may change, check the current options before making plans.
Art and a break
The Kunsthaus at Kunsthof Eibenstock provides space for concerts, dance, yoga, seminars, discussions, exhibitions and creative courses. The art café serves single-origin coffees, chocolate specialities, drinking chocolate, tea and ice cream; the ice cream comes from Café Richter in Sosa. Programmes and offerings may change, so it is worth checking the latest information before planning a specific visit.
Discover more destinations: Carlsfeld, Wildenthal, WeitersglashĂĽtte, Hohndorf, Blauenthal, Oberwiesenthal, Aue, StĂĽtzengrĂĽn.
Back to the main travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.
