Kurort Kipsdorf is surrounded by forests and offers a wide range of hiking opportunities. It is also home to the history of the mountain church and the “Maria im Gebirge” chapel, as well as the Weißeritztalbahn, whose terminus is in the resort. These topics offer different starting points for planning your trip: you can build your stay around a hiking route, church history or the narrow-gauge railway. Specific waypoints and the different historical chapters are particularly helpful when making your choice.
Hiking with Specific Waypoints
The Kipsdorf–Schmiedeberg railway hiking trail passes the “Maria im Gebirge” chapel. About 600 m beyond Kurort Kipsdorf station, it crosses the Rote Weißeritz. The Glockentour leads from Kipsdorf to Altenberg via Bärenfels and Schellerhau. The two named tours therefore differ in their specific waypoints and destinations: the chapel and river crossing are notable landmarks on the railway hiking trail, while Bärenfels, Schellerhau and Altenberg define the route of the Glockentour. The forests around the resort and its varied hiking opportunities add a broader connection to nature to these specific route details. If you would like to plan your trip around a hike, you can start by considering the waypoints and destination listed for each route.
The Mountain Church and Chapel: Two Building Histories
The Kurort Kipsdorf mountain church was built in 1907/1908 to designs by William Lossow and Max Hans Kühne and consecrated on September 22, 1908. It was restored in 1956 and 1988. This distinguishes the dates of construction and consecration from those of the later restorations. The “Maria im Gebirge” chapel has a different history: it was created in 1925 by converting a former carbide gas plant and was blessed on July 19, 1925. The two building histories offer a clear thematic connection for travelers who would like to include the resort’s ecclesiastical architecture in their trip planning alongside nature and the railway. Chronologically, the mountain church’s construction and consecration were close together; the restorations in 1956 and 1988 came much later. Both the chapel’s conversion and its blessing took place in 1925.
WeiĂźeritztalbahn: Route and Arrival
Built between 1881 and 1883, the WeiĂźeritztalbahn is a 750 mm narrow-gauge railway. Its route is 26.3 km long and climbs 350 m. The steepest gradient is between the level crossing on the B 170 and the Kurort Kipsdorf signal box; the train reaches the terminus via the steepest section of the line beyond BuschmĂĽhle halt. According to tourist information from the operator, the WeiĂźeritztalbahn carries passengers daily from Freital-Hainsberg to the resort of Kurort Kipsdorf. As timetables and maintenance periods may change, check the current timetable before traveling.
The public car park in Kurort Kipsdorf is about a ten-minute walk from the station. If you plan to use it, check the current parking situation before setting out, as parking conditions may change.
Discover more destinations: Hermsdorf/Erzgebirge, Schellerhau, Bärenburg.
Return to the regional travel overview: Altenberg.
