Cultural Route of the Vögte - Stage 8: In the territory of the Vögte of Plauen
- 1:36 h
- 103.58 km
- 1,232 m
- 1,370 m
- 274 m
- 588 m
- 314 m
- Start: Lorenz Church Hof
- Destination: St. John's Church Plauen
The Burgstein area has always been a border region between the dioceses of Naumburg and Bamberg. However, in the 20th century, it was located in the restricted zone due to the German division. Now, especially hikers and history enthusiasts are rediscovering this unique cultural landscape. You should definitely visit the former pilgrimage churches on the Burgstein and the Leubnitz Castle – now a museum and tourist information center. In Mühltroff, you will find Heinrich von Plauen, who after the Battle of Tannenberg in 1410 successfully defended Marienburg and rose to become the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. Plauen erected a monument to this important knight in front of the Old Town Hall in 1923. Also notable are the romantic castle ruins in Elsterberg and Liebau, popular hiking destinations in the Vogtland Switzerland.
On this stage, the cultural route also introduces visitors to many medieval churches, some with valuable interiors.
Overview of attractions:
- Fortified church Triebel
- Castle ruin Wiedersberg
- Church Bobenneukirchen
- St. Clara Chapel Heinersgrün
- Burgstein ruins near Krebes
- Water castle Geilsdorf
- Salvator Church Kürbitz
- Church Straßberg
- Fortified church Thossen
- Leubnitz Castle
- St. Andrew's Church Tanna
- Church Ranspach
- Mühltroff Castle
- Fortified church Thierbach
- Church Ebersgrün
- Church Pöllwitz
- Church Bernsdorf
- Church Fröbersgrün
- Church Dobia
- Castle ruin Elsterberg
- Castle ruin Liebau
- Church Steinsdorf
- Castle and Church Jößnitz
Waypoints
Good to know
Pavements
- Street (81%)Asphalt (16%)Gravel (1%)Trail (2%)
Best to visit
- suitableDepends on weather
Directions
Leave Hof heading east and follow the signs to Oelsnitz. After crossing the Bavarian-Saxon border, you will eventually reach Triebel. Then, go back a short distance and turn right at Posseck towards Wiedersberg. Then drive towards Plauen. On the former B 173, turn left to Heinersgrün to visit the St. Clara Chapel.
Back on the former B 173, drive to Großzöbern and turn left towards Krebes / Burgstein. Park below the Burgstein ruins at the hiking parking lot.
Via Ruderitz, you will reach the water castle Geilsdorf. Along the Kemnitzbach valley, you come back to B 173 in Pirk, cross the A 72 (Globus Weischlitz), and after about 1 km, turn left to Kürbitz. Park in front of the "Golden Lion" and the Salvator Church.
Then cross the Elster bridge and turn right after the railway crossing towards Straßberg. Park opposite the organic mill and walk to the church.
The stage continues towards the fortified church St. Martin in Thossen, the castle Mühltroff, and the churches in Tanna, Ranspach, Thierbach, Ebersgrün, Pöllwitz, Fröbersgrün, and Dobia. Finally, reach Elsterberg with its proud castle ruin and the Laurentius Church. The cultural route then leads via Liebau, Steinsdorf, and Jößnitz back to Plauen - the former seat of power of the Vögte of Plauen.
Tour information
Cultural Interesting
Directions & Parking facilities
- Getting thereHof is conveniently located near the highways A 9 (Nuremberg-Leipzig-Berlin) and A 72 (Hof-Chemnitz). From Nuremberg, take the Hof-West exit; from the north, take the Hof-Nord exit (B 173); from Chemnitz/Plauen, take the Töpen exit (B 2); and from Regensburg/Prague, take the Hof-East exit (B 173).ParkingUse the public parking lot Oberer Anger in Hof.Public transportation
You can reach Hof by Deutsche Bahn from Nuremberg (RE) or from Dresden with the Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn. There are also connections to Eger via Selb and to Gera via Zeulenroda. Information is available at www.bahn.de and from the Vogtland Tourism and Transport Center at www.vogtlandauskunft.de or by phone at 03744 / 19449
Additional information
Literature
Author
Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen mbH
Bautzner Straße 45/4701099 DresdenOrganization
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
License (master data)
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
Tip: In the Burgstein area, you can combine the St. Clara Chapel in Heinersgrün and the Burgstein ruins with a hike on the Kammweg.