Gröppendorf round
- 4:48 h
- 19.28 km
- 137 m
- 137 m
- 145 m
- 217 m
- 72 m
- Start: Mügeln station, address: Bahnhofstraße in 04769 Mügeln.
- Destination: Mügeln station
The trail starts at the Geoportal Bahnhof Mügeln, which gives an initial overview of the kaolin mining that has been active in the region for 250 years. From there, the route leads out of town past the venerable Schloss Ruhetal towards the village of Berntitz.
It continues through the Wermsdorfer Forest with its historic alley No. 8 and along the Streitbach valley to Gröppendorf. Here, the mining and processing of the “white gold” – as the porcelain clay kaolin is colloquially called in the region – can be experienced at the open pit mine Gröppendorf.
For technology and industrial history enthusiasts, the branch to Glossen with its historic loading ramp at the narrow-gauge railway stop is a must. On operating days of the Glossen field railway, a ride from here to the quartzite quarry located 3 km away and back to Mügeln station can be undertaken. The hiking trail back to Mügeln also offers varied impressions. It is probably the most beautiful path to the former over 1,000-year-old bishopric town.
Good to know
Best to visit
- suitableDepends on weather
Directions
Mügeln-Berntitz-Wermsdorfer Forest-Gröppendorf-Glossen/Nebitzschen-Mügeln
Note for cyclists: The route is not fully passable and is designed as a hiking route!
We start at Mügeln station and head towards the town center/market, then walk past Mügeln's St. Johannis town church and Schloss Ruhethal towards Berntitz. Along the Plattenstraße, we reach Großschlatitz, a former district of Berntitz, and follow the road through Berntitz to the connecting road to Limbach. We cross it and follow the field path about 900 m, where after the start of a paved stretch we turn left into the Wermsdorfer Forest.
It is about 1 km on a forest path (attention: challenging for cyclists!) until we reach the paved forest road (marked nature trail). We follow this about 2.3 km and turn left about 400 m after the wild boar enclosure. Then we reach the connecting road S 41 Mügeln-Wermsdorf and follow it about 600 m towards Wermsdorf.
In the road dip, we turn left and follow the signposts
“Gröppendorf 1.5 km, hiking route 3.”
Before the first house, we turn left towards Seelitz, follow the field path to the town entrance, and then keep right towards Schleben/Nebitzschen.
In Schleben, just after entering the town, it goes immediately left to Nebitzschen. But Nebitzschen can also be reached directly from Seelitz.
The path continues towards Altmügeln past the “Kaolin bank” and the Altmügeln church.
Following the road to Wermsdorfer Straße, after the stop sign, we keep right, cross the Döllnitz, and after about 200 m turn left towards the Anger playground. Past the bakehouse, we reach the market and continue towards Mügeln station.
Alternatively, you can also go through Gröppendorf directly to Glossen.
The Glossen station is the terminus of the historic narrow-gauge railway "Wilder Robert". Here, there is the possibility to take the field railway train to the quarry. The former quarry was used for quartzite mining. Since quartzite was important for steel production, the quarry was operated as a military economy enterprise from June 1940. In this context, the field railway system was built at the beginning of 1943 by Russian prisoners of war. Today it is considered a technical monument.
Tour information
Cultural Interesting
Loop Road
Stop at an Inn
Directions & Parking facilities
- ParkingParking lot Bahnhof Mügeln on Bahnhofstraße, 04769 MügelnPublic transportation
The Döllnitzbahn is integrated into the Central German Transport Association. MDV tickets are accepted on the narrow-gauge railway. The Döllnitzbahn route is designed for arrival and departure by the narrow-gauge railway (Döllnitzbahn). The ideal transfer point from train to narrow-gauge railway is the main station in Oschatz. www.doellnitzbahn.de
The hiking route starts at Mügeln station.
Additional information
- The hike starts and ends at stops of the Döllnitzbahn, so that you can combine hiking with the narrow-gauge railway experience.
You can find the timetable of the Döllnitzbahn here: https://www.doellnitzbahn.de/fahrplaene-tarife/fahrplaene/
The Döllnitzbahn is part of the Central German Transport Association (MDV). The MDV tariffs apply on the narrow-gauge railway www.mdv.de . Literature
"Land of the white earth", Sax-Verlag, authors Günter Schwerdtner and Siegfried Pfeil
Author
Geopark Porphyrland. Steinreich in Sachsen
Organization
LEIPZIG REGION
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
Be sure to plan a visit to the Geoportal Bahnhof Mügeln with the multimedia experience world Kaolin.
Map
- City map of the town of Mügeln, available at the Geoportal Bahnhof Mügeln
Download GPX file