Rossau combines a Romanesque hall church with a water-ski cableway on the edge of the industrial estate and a racetrack in the Rossauer Großwald forest. This brings together architectural history and a range of leisure interests. When planning, you can distinguish between attractions in the town and other excursion and cultural themes across the wider destination of Mittelsachsen.
Church and layers of history
The church in Rossau is a Romanesque hall church dating from the 12th or 13th century. Later structures and furnishings mark their own periods: a winged altarpiece from 1521, a Gothic roof turret from 1529, and an organ built between 1660 and 1670, considered one of the oldest in Saxony. The protected churchyard is also part of the historic ensemble. The sequence from the medieval building to the 17th-century organ offers a clear introduction to architectural and art history.
Leisure activities in Rossau
A water-ski cableway is located on the edge of the industrial estate, and a racetrack lies in the Rossauer Großwald forest. Alongside the church, these offer two different leisure options to consider when planning your trip. Before visiting, check the current operating and access arrangements for each facility separately.
The Zschopau Valley: combine trails and rail travel
For a day of hiking, the Zschopau Valley is another option. A hike can take in flat stretches of river, interesting flora, and pastureland. The route can continue toward Biensdorf and the suspension bridge near Sachsenburg; the Krumbach ferry can also be part of the route. You can combine the hike with a ride on the historic mine railway in Schönborn-Dreiwerden. This lets you plan an outing that combines walking and rail travel rather than relying solely on walking. Check in advance whether the ferry is operating.
Mittelsachsen: more landscapes and cultural attractions
The wider destination of Mittelsachsen offers additional landscape and cultural attractions. The 353-metre-high Rochlitzer Berg is a remnant of volcanic activity; its red porphyry tuff is considered unique in Germany and Europe. The Mulderadweg cycle route crosses the district of Mittelsachsen, while the Porphyrland Geopark invites visitors to hike and cycle. Sailing is possible on the Kriebstein Reservoir. The region therefore offers a range of distinct themes, including geology, cycling and hiking, and water sports.
Rochsburg Castle has housed a museum since 1911. The exhibition “People Make Clothes” features 52 costumes spanning 1,000 years of European fashion history. Another perspective on collecting is offered by the terra mineralia exhibition at Freudenstein Castle, which presents more than 3,500 minerals, gemstones, and meteorites. Augustusburg Castle houses a motorcycle museum. The range of themes thus extends from European clothing history and minerals to technology.
In summer, the Mittelsächsischer Kultursommer adds to these regional attractions: the annual festival lasts three months and includes more than 40 events across Mittelsachsen. Since the specific programmes vary, check the event dates if you want to plan your stay around them.
Discover more destinations: Striegistal, Freiberg, Erlau, Hartmannsdorf, Leisnig, Lichtenau, Wechselburg, Rechenberg-Bienenmühle
Return to the overview of the wider destination: Mittelsachsen.
