During a stay in Pockau, you can choose between industrial heritage, a local history museum and short hikes. At the Technical Museum Oil Mill, a historic watermill and demonstrations of oil production come together; two short hiking trails in Pockau are each 4 km long. The landscape around the Saidenbach Reservoir, northeast of Pockau-Lengefeld, offers another nature-focused option. The choices range from a scheduled cultural visit to trails with different viewpoints.
Industrial Heritage at the Oil Mill
The Technical Museum Oil Mill Pockau preserves an old watermill dating from 1783, whose historic machinery is still fully operational. The museum also demonstrates oil-production technology from different centuries using working machinery. This brings together a specific historic building, functioning machinery and the development of a process; the focus spans everything from mill construction to oil production.
The oil mill reopened on 16 May 2026. Guided visits are available on Saturdays from 13:00 to 17:00. Plan your museum visit for this time slot and check the guided tour schedule in advance.
One of the 4-km short hikes starts at the oil mill. It follows a forest path and the Zöppelsteig to the Vollebene viewpoint and back. If you would like to go hiking as well as visit the museum, this trail starts from the same place.
A Different View of Local History
The KurfĂĽrstliche Amtsfischerei Museum offers a different focus. Its exhibitions cover local history and ways of life, as well as bobbin lace and model railways. Those interested in technical processes will find that focus at the oil mill; visitors interested in local history, bobbin lace or model railways will find different subjects to explore at the Amtsfischerei. The museum building has been a listed monument since 1953.
Two Short Hiking Trails, Same Distance
Both trails are 4 km long and are circular. The first starts at the oil mill; via a forest path and the Zöppelsteig, it reaches the viewpoint at Vollebene. The second starts at the railway crossing on Marienberger Straße, goes via Schützenhöhe to the Mertensberg viewpoint and returns to the starting point. Since both trails are the same distance, the key differences are their starting points and destinations.
Saidenbach Reservoir: Nature Trail and Dam
Northeast of Pockau-Lengefeld, the landscape around the Saidenbach Reservoir includes a nature conservation area of about 4,500 hectares. There is an accessible dam, a nature trail and numerous paths for walks by the water. The “Pockau - discover a paradise” route follows an uphill nature trail to the accessible top of the dam. This landscape offers different options, from walks by the water to an uphill trail with a specific destination on the dam.
Discover more destinations: Kurort Seiffen/Erzgebirge, Jöhstadt, Dorfchemnitz, Gehringswalde, Stollberg, Neukirchen/Erzgebirge, Krumhermersdorf, Stützengrün
For the overview of the wider region: Erzgebirgskreis.
