The medieval castle complex is a prominent viewpoint in Tharandt. The Tharandter Wald has a signposted network of trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding, as well as educational and nature trails. The viewpoint, several types of trails and the Meilerplatz bring together a range of travel interests. They offer different possible focuses for a stay and for finding a hotel in Tharandt.

Castle Complex and Viewpoint

The medieval castle complex is a prominent viewpoint in the town. It offers a cultural and historical reason to visit, distinct from the activities available in the forest. Choosing between hiking, cycling and horseback riding means choosing a different focus each time; this lets you base your choice on your reason for travelling rather than on a general accommodation recommendation.

Choose a Trail Network by Activity

In the Tharandter Wald, the town lists 135 km of signposted hiking trails, 350 km of cycling routes and more than 100 km of bridleways, as well as educational and nature trails. Of the listed trail types, the cycling network is the most extensive; hiking and horseback riding also have their own networks. The municipal route figures may be updated, so check current trail information when planning a specific trip. Your planned activity is a more useful guide to choosing than a simple comparison of kilometres: the figures refer to different activities.

Meilerplatz and the Meiler Festival

The historic Meilerplatz in the Tharandter Wald is a picnic and barbecue area associated with charcoal production. At the traditional Meiler Festival, a standing earth kiln is lit. This makes the distinction between visiting the site and attending the festival, which takes place at a specific time, relevant to your planning: if you would like to experience the festival, check the latest dates; details of annual events may change.

The Wider Region: Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge District

In the wider destination of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, there is much more to explore than Tharandt alone. Saxon Switzerland National Park is Saxony’s only national park and Germany’s only national park featuring sandstone cliffs. The district currently has 16 landscape conservation areas covering a total of 97,200 hectares, or around 59 percent of the district’s area. Cultural attractions include the Altenberg Mining Museum, which provides an overview of the 550-year history of tin ore mining in Altenberg. Mining began around 1440 and ended in 1991 when the mines closed. At Königstein Fortress, modern exhibitions and interactive stations bring the fortress’s history to life; individual exhibitions may change. Other attractions in the district include the Osterzgebirge Wildlife Park. On a walk there, visitors can see native animals such as fallow deer, red deer and mouflon, lynxes, wildcats and raccoons, as well as non-native animals such as cotton-top tamarins, coatis, meerkats, Asian small-clawed otters and Bennett’s wallabies in a naturalistic setting. The population of individual species may change. In the Ore Mountain part of the district, annual specialities weeks celebrate the variety of local cuisine.

Discover more destinations: Pohrsdorf, Klingenberg, Kleinhennersdorf, Dippoldiswalde, Stolpen, Neustadt In Sachsen, Königstein, Geising.

See the wider travel overview: Sächsische Schweiz.