Cultural Trail of the Vögte - the main route

Day 1

Our discovery journey begins in the northern part of Vogtland in Gera. Visiting the St. Mary's Church with its famous winged altar, we dive into the past. From the bergfried Osterstein, the remains of the medieval castle complex, there is a panoramic view of today’s city.

Then we travel to the cradle of Vogtland to Weida and Wünschendorf. Here, the Vögte founded with the Osterburg and the Mildenfurth monastery in the 12th century the centers of their secular and spiritual territorial lordship. In Wünschendorf, the oldest church of Vogtland, St. Veit, is also located. We return to Gera, where the first day of the trip ends with an evening walk through Gera’s historic Untermhaus district.

Day 2

On the second day, we go to the former residence town of Greiz. The Upper Castle stands as a landmark giving the picturesque landscape in the valley of the Weiße Elster a distinctive character. An exciting exhibition brings visitors closer to the historical connections between the Vögte and their descendants, the Princes of Reuß. Archaeological excavations uncovered a Romanesque double chapel with several floors—an impressive status symbol of the Vögte.

A detour of 10 km along the Göltzsch from Greiz to Mylau is worthwhile. Here stands the best-preserved medieval castle in Saxon Vogtland. Today it houses the new information center for the Vögte cultural trail and an impressive cultural-historical exhibition. A walk through the Princely Greizer Park and a visit to a restaurant perfectly round off the second day.

Day 3 (Optional)

Now we continue west to Schleiz. The magnificent Mountain Church above the town can tell over 800 years of history as a place of worship. The nearby Burgk Castle on the Saale is already a tourist attraction due to its unique location. Inside is the elaborately restored Silbermann organ in the artistically designed chapel of devotion. The cultural trail now leads us along the Saale into neighboring Upper Franconia. The Vögte of Weida once developed Hof into a medieval town. Today’s Museum "Bavarian Vogtland" was once part of a monastery. The journey leads us through the Burgstein area with romantic churches (Heinersgrün) and legendary pilgrimage sites (Burgstein) to Plauen.

Day 4

Along the Weiße Elster, the route leads us from Greiz via Elsterberg directly to Plauen. It is rich in relics from the time of the Vögte. The former convent building of the German Order is one of the oldest walls in the city. Adjacent is the St. John's Church, whose construction in 1122 also marks the foundation of Plauen. Also worth seeing are the remains of the old city fortifications, which can be well imagined up to the Malzhaus. From the newly built viewing platform at the former Vögte castle, there is a wonderful view of the historic old town. From Plauen, a route to nearby Oelsnitz, also located on the Weiße Elster, is worthwhile. Voigtsberg Castle offers visitors changing exhibitions, events, and an impressive view from the bergfried.

Day 5

The last day of the trip belongs to the Bohemian neighbor. The Seeberg Castle near Franzensbad is attractively integrated into the landscape. However, a Vogt never resided here. The small castle was instead inhabited by loyal vassals who helped protect the surroundings of the town of Eger from attacks. An ethnic exhibition provides much insight into life in the region. Across a small bridge you reach the nearby Wolfgangskirche. In the church and the castle itself were once valuable art treasures, now exhibited in the Gallery of Fine Arts in Cheb / Eger.

We come back to the Vögte again at the imperial palace, a mighty castle complex whose roots date back to the 13th century and which has a well-preserved double chapel. The Vögte appeared in Eger as representatives of the Bohemian crown. Two Heinrichs from Weida very likely sat in the old imperial palace and ruled the town for the Bohemian king. Our journey following the traces of the Vögte ends here in Eger. With the Vogtlandbahn on the Elstertal line, you can comfortably return to the starting point in Gera and once again enjoy the landscape from the window that still bears the name VOGTLAND today.