Czech-Saxon Ore Mountains Region Guide and Schedule of Events for the period of April to June 2012 Unique Features of the Ore Mountains Area Did you know that... ...the Ore Mountains are an attractive ...over the past decades thousands of place all the year round. people in Czech spas have checked out the treating power of peat that is ...the Valley of Bezruč is one of the plentiful in the Ore Mountains. longest, deepest and most beautiful valleys of the Ore Mountains created by ...Cracked Rock – a striking rock of an activity of the Chomutovka River. a reddish colour not far from the Dam of Fláje – works as a natural lightning ...the Hasištejn Castle was probably set up conductor due to its exposed position. as early as at the beginning of 14th century in order to protect significant trading ...you can find the deepest chateau well routes leading from Bohemia to Saxon (130.6 m) at the Augustusburg Chateau? Annaberg. J. W. Goethe visited the castle The Hunting Lodge and the Augustusburg in 1810. Folly have been rising in the altitutude of 516 m above the Zschopau Valley for ...a great tip for hikers are Hiking Weeks more than 400 years. Various events such Pavel Kouda, Vice-Governor of the Usti Region Veronika Hiebl, Executive Director of called “echt Erzgebirge“ (“genuine Ore as the chateau theatre and the winter Tourismusverband Erzgebirge e.V. Mountains“) that always take place from meeting of bikers are worth attending. Saturday of the third to Sunday of the fourth weekend in May and September, ...Annaberger Kät in Annaberg-Buchholz, including accompaniment of a guide. taking place between 9 and 17 June 2012, is the greatest celebration of the Ore The European Union has supported the project that focuses on joint promotion of the ...a mining town of Freiberg is celebrating Mountains. Action and fun with a furious Ore Mountains on both sides of the border. The joint promotion of the region without its 850th anniversary this year. ride, fast twists and a rich offer for the borders will help remove current information barriers and will support overall develop- The town of silver is celebrating whole family including international ment of the Ore Mountains and the neighbouring area called Podkrušnohoří. throughout the whole year of 2012; culinary specialties. For many years this area has been trying to change its image, which is perceived rather one of many events is an anniversary negatively especially on the Czech side due to mining and historical devastation of en- of the first discoveries of silver, which ...the Fichtelbergbahn railway has been vironment. From a different point of view, you can see a unique area, which can offer helped the town achieve fame and transporting passangers between wealth. Events such as the mining town Cranzahl and the spa of Oberwiesenthal incredible experiences to a visitor. The Ore Mountains hide a lot of amazing places, which celebrations, which takes place from for 115 years already. are certainly worth seeing. The guide provides several tips for interesting outings that will 24 June to 1 July including a parade of It is celebrating its anniversary together help you understand the history and wild beauty of this area. miners, The Saxon Day, which takes place with Erzgebirgsbahn, which is celebrating on the first weekend of September, and its 10th anniversary. Numerous attractions We believe that you will fall in love with the Ore Mountains and that you will be happy to mining music days are the highlight of the will be prepared for both small and adult come back again. programme being prepared. fans of these machines on 2 and 3 June. 5 4 1 2 3 1 THE MUSEUM OF ORE MOUNTAINS 3 SPHINX BY MĚDĚNEC IN LESNÁ “The Ore Mountains through the eyes of Sphinx“, is how the Not far from the towns of Chomutov and Most, beautiful view of an interesting and rare rock formation near you can come across a small mountain settle- Měděnec may be described. The rock was named after its sha- ment called Lesná. Only five renovated or newly pe, which looks like a Sphinx‘s head. It is located southeast of constructed buildings are left from the village, the village of Měděnec. Since 1983, these rocks have been pro- which originally had 29 houses. One of them is tected as a natural heritage monument. the Museum of Ore Mountains, which presents These rocks offer a very nice view of the Ore and Doupovské the Ore-Mountain Folk House from 1873. Near Mountains and of the picturesque valley of the Ohře River. This this museum there is a replica of a chapel with a site is a popular summer destination, but it has its charm in win- belfry including an original bell that chimes each ter as well, when the landscape is buried under snow and the hour and thus can serve as a landmark in fog or a trees look like they are in a fairytale. Biking trail No. 35 passes snowstorm. Visitors have the opportunity to try by this natural monument. to bake bread or gingerbread, to work a bobbin, Contact: www.goklasterec.cz or to try wire repairs, to work on the potter‘s wheel, weaving, weaving on a spinning wheel, etc., with their own two hands. The exhibition also offers a collection of old farm machinery and a variety of exhibitions on the second floor of the house. 4 The museum in Lesná opens daily and offers guided tours on weekends. The entrance fee is voluntary. CHLUMEC Contact: www.horskyklublesna.cz Chlumec is surrounded by the Ore Mountains and by rich history, including the well-known battle at Chlumec dating back to 1813. Even today you can still find rusty cannonballs or parts of military equip- ment ïn the vicinity of the town. The importance of one of the bloodiest battles of the Napoleonic wars is demonstrated by many monuments scattered along the way from Nakléřov to Teplice. In Chlumec you 2 THE VALLEY OF BEZRUČ may see a monument commemorating the famous battle and also the remnants of an old fortress and crosses of reconciliation. The most visited events in Chlumec are reconstructions of the famous battle at One of the longest (13 km), deepest and most beau- Chlumec, as well as a traditional country-folk festival called Chlumecký goulash. tiful valleys of the Ore Mountains that was created Contact: www.ouchlumec.cz by an activity of the Chomutovka River is the Valley of Bezruč. In 2002 it was declared a National Park. From the town of Chomutov you can take a nature trail lined with many informative signs and boards 5 AUGUST HORCH MUSEUM IN ZWICKAU pointing out natural, technical and historical sites. Our tip for your outing is a stroll to the Bear Water- The museum is located in a former production falls. The best way to get there is to take a trip from plant where luxurious Horch vehicles and also the second Mill following the Chomutovka River Audi models were produced more than 100 years stream towards the Mount of St. Sebastian. By an ago. 80 significant exhibits, such as DKW, Trabant abandoned building built of bricks at a place called and Volkswagen vehicles, are a part of the long- “Tišina“ follow a footpath and after about 300 m you reach the Bear Waterfalls. Nearby you will find the time history and they make history an adventu- Novodomské peat bog, Buky nad Kameničkou reservation, Křímov and Kamenička reservoirs, Sokolí hnízdo rous experience. (Falcon‘s Nest) viewing tower, and many other interesting places. Contact: www.horch-museum.de Contact: www.chomutov-mesto.cz 6 9 8 8 6 6 7 6 6 STEAM NARROW GAUGE 8 ORE MOUNTAINS IN MINIATURES RAILWAYS The Park of Miniatures “Klein Erzgebirge“ Oederan In the oldest park of miniatures in Central Europe and the second oldest one in the world, in the area of the Ore Mountains in Oederan, you can find the most beautiful constructions of the Ore Mountains in a detailed man- ner and scale of 1:25. You can admire more than 1,300 hand-made works of castles, chateaus, mines, mills, and bridges here. Moving figures repre- sent everyday work of craftsmen. “Heimatecke” (Corner of Motherland) Waschleithe In the touring facility called Heimat- ecke (Corner of Motherland), which Autor: Fichtelbergbahn is located in the romantic Oswald- Black iron horses whizz through the landscape gracefully and full of power. Only four Saxon narrow-gau- thal Valley by Schwarzenberg, you ge railways with 750 mm gauge out of nineteen have been preserved in the Ore Mountains up to now can find approximately 90 models of – Fichtelbergbahn, Preßnitztalbahn, Schönheide-Carlsfeld Railway Museum and Weißeritztalbahn. Even significant constructions of the Ore now those who are keen on these elderly ladies radiate happiness when they take a ride through the Mountains. Small works of art were most beautiful valleys of the Ore Mountains. made as authentic detailed miniatu- res in the scale of 1:40. Contacts: www.fichtelbergbahn.de www.pressnitztalbahn.de www.weisseritztalbahn.de Contacts: www.museumsbahn-schoenheide.de www.klein-erzgebirge.de www.heimatecke.de 7 MANUFACTURE OF DREAMS Autor: BUR IN ANNABERG-BUCHHOLZ The Manufacture of Dreams is a museum of extra- ordinary experiences. You can see exhibits from 9 MUSEUM OF LICENCE PLATES IN GROSSOLBERSDORF the collection of Erika Pohl-Ströher, a keen Swiss collector, who comes from the Ore Mountains. This museum of transport, which you cannot find elsewhere in the world, is located in an old toy-ma- The focus point of the exhibition is variety of the king factory in Grossolbersdorf.