Church Art and Fruit Slate in Theuma

The Maria Magdalena Altar in Theuma Church dates from 1510 to 1520. Together with other ecclesiastical details and the history of fruit slate mining, it offers a tangible introduction to Theuma’s cultural history.

The church also contains historic tomb slabs belonging to the town’s patrons. The wood panelling features scenes from the life of Jesus, added by local residents over the past 300 years. The precisely dated altar, the tomb slabs and the imagery added over a long period thus come together.

Visitors wishing to see the church should contact the parish office. Please arrange your visit with them in advance.

Theuma fruit slate has been mined southeast of Theuma since the first half of the 19th century. It is considered well known beyond the country’s borders and valued for its properties. Alongside the church furnishings, this gives the town’s history a second perspective, shaped by the material and its extraction.

The Theuma Natural Stone Works is connected with the extraction of fruit slate. If you are considering a visit to the works, please check access arrangements separately in advance.

The Vogtland as a Wider Travel Region

In the wider Vogtland travel region, hiking, cycling and mountain biking are among the activities available amid forests and green hills. Musical instrument making also shapes the region: musical instruments have been made in the Upper Vogtland for more than 350 years. The Markneukirchen Musical Instrument Museum displays the world’s largest playable violin.

Other cultural highlights in the Vogtland offer a different perspective. The Göltzsch Viaduct is one of the world’s two largest brick bridges. The Royal Gardens of Bad Elster combine extensive historic parks with spa architecture of cultural and historical significance. The wider region thus encompasses music and architectural heritage, as well as landscapes and parks.

There is also a regional benchmark for hiking: the Vogtland Panorama Trail is 225 kilometres long. Green dumplings, made from raw grated potatoes, are considered a Vogtland speciality. Nature, longer trails and regional cuisine thus broaden the range of travel-planning ideas alongside Theuma’s church and slate history.

The Vogtland can be reached by train via Plauen or Auerbach; direct road connections lead to the A72 and A93 motorways. If you plan to travel by train, check current timetables before your trip. For cycling holidays, there is another option: most cycle paths in the Vogtland are near bus or train stops. Bicycles can be carried free of charge in the Vogtland, subject to vehicle capacity. This makes it possible to plan regional routes and public transport connections together.

Discover more destinations: Mühlental, Plauen, Pöhl, Bergen, Markneukirchen, Neumark, Netzschkau, Hammerbrücke

Return to the main travel overview: Vogtland.