From the Gasparinentempel, 65 metres above the valley floor, you can see the Upper Castle and Greiz Old Town. Greiz can be explored through a range of interests: residence architecture, exhibitions, local history, and hiking and cycling trails. This can help you decide which themes you would like to focus on during your stay.
Residence Architecture and Exhibitions
Greiz Upper Castle is an authentic example of the residence architecture of a small German state. Its permanent and special exhibitions let you explore architectural findings from different periods, spanning from the Romanesque era to Art Nouveau. Both the castle’s architecture and its traces of history are among Greiz’s cultural highlights.
The museum at Upper Castle also presents architectural history interactively. A computer animation lets you explore 800 years of building history; visitors can also try on knights’ helmets and learn about dining customs of the time in the sound chair. The exhibits offer a variety of experiences: after the digital presentation, visitors can try things out and learn about historical everyday culture through sound.
The museum at Lower Castle focuses on a different subject with its exhibition “Greiz Textile History”. The Summer Palace is itself part of Greiz’s architectural ensemble, which brings together architectural landmarks from the 12th to the 19th century. Together, these places offer a range of themes for a cultural stay: architectural history and residence architecture sit alongside textile history and a broad historical perspective on the ensemble.
Local History and Guided Tours
The Art Nouveau quarter lies in the town centre around Marktstraße and Thomasstraße. It is another urban landmark alongside Upper Castle and the Summer Palace. If you are interested in the town’s history, Greiz also offers a historical costume tour. It presents local history and notable events at historic sites and is available year-round by arrangement.
The Princely Greiz Park can also be included in a guided tour of Greiz. This is one way for visitors to combine sightseeing with a visit to the park. Whether this appeals to you depends on which themes you would like to focus on during your stay.
Views and Trails Around Greiz
The Greiz Circular Hiking Trail is about 70 kilometres long, divided into several stages, and passes sights and viewpoints in the town. The Gasparinentempel is on Stage 3, between Silberloch and Dölau. From there, you can see Upper Castle and the Old Town; the viewpoint combines a scenic location with two striking views of Greiz.
To choose a route, compare the stated distances and activities: the circular hiking trail covers around 70 kilometres and is divided into stages. The “Greiz – Werdauer Wald – Göltzschtal Bridge” cycling tour is about 35 kilometres long and rated moderate. This lets you choose between a longer hike divided into stages and a shorter cycling tour with a stated moderate difficulty level.
Another way to enjoy the landscape is the Greiz town animal enclosure, located within the Greiz-Werdauer Wald Landscape Conservation Area. Alongside viewpoints and routes, you can also visit a place within a protected landscape.
Discover more destinations: Mohlsdorf-Teichwolframsdorf, Kraftsdorf, Weida, Bocka, Moschwitz, Hilbersdorf, Langenwetzendorf, MĂĽnchenbernsdorf.
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