Vogtland Panorama Trail®

Stage 1:

From the world's largest brick bridge, the idyllic Köhlersteig leads through the wildly romantic gorge of the Göltzsch to its confluence with the White Elster. A true opener by all means, before continuing, no less beautiful, along the Elster upstream to the Elstertal Bridge near Jocketa.

Stage 2:

From the Elstertal Bridge, it goes into the beautiful old town of Plauen, the capital of Vogtland. A worthwhile extension leads to the Vogtland Mill Quarter, to the mysterious Dragon Cave Syrau, Saxony's only natural dripstone cave, and to the last tower Dutch windmill of Vogtland.

Stage 3:

From Zwoschwitz, the third stage leads through the central Vogtland hill landscape, passes the Pirk reservoir and goes through the former mining area of Schönbrunn – Huthaus. The destination is the old town of Oelsnitz with the widely visible Voigtsberg Castle.

Stage 4:

It continues southwards to the Saxon spa town of Bad Elster. Shortly before, it takes a detour through the valleys and forests of the Elster Mountains, almost reaching the German-Czech border.

Stage 5:

From spa town to spa town, the fifth stage of the Vogtland Panorama Trail® runs along the border between the Czech Republic and Germany. Experienced hikers are advised to include a small variant over the roof of the Elster Mountains, the Hainberg (Czech: Haj).

Stage 6:

The route leads from Bad Brambach to the viewing tower on Kapellenberg and back to the Saxon spa town. From the 759-meter-high mountain peak, there is a wide view into the nearby Egerland, which can be approached a bit closer on a variant via Schönberg.

Stage 7:

Through the Musikwinkel, this culturally shaped stage leads to Markneukirchen, the capital of musical instrument making. Worth seeing along the way is the Vogtland open-air museum in Landwüst.

Stage 8:

The foothills of the high hills at the transition from the Elster Mountains to the Ore Mountains frame the mountain stage. The path still remains in the valley, but forms a first pleasant foretaste of the following days in the mountains.

Stage 9:

The first real mountain stage can be tackled briefly and "painlessly" on the direct route via Klingenthal to Aschberg, allowing enough time for a stroll through the music and winter sports town.

Stage 10:

The stage via Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz to Vogelsgrün is entirely dedicated to the stars. At the German Space Exhibition, you learn all about the Russian and American space missions.

Stage 11:

Today, you leave the mountainous landscape of Vogtland. Once again, a high mountain must be climbed. Then follows a long descent to Rodewisch, where after 10 days you meet the Göltzsch again – the goal is within reach!

Stage 12:

The final chord leads back to the Göltzsch Valley Bridge. A last ascent to Wilhelmshöhe promises a panoramic view from the nearby Perlaser Tower before returning to the starting point via Mylau Castle.

The VPW is a stage hiking trail and should therefore be undertaken with appropriate equipment. 

Vogtland Tourism Association e. V.

Göltzsch Valley Street 16
08209 Auerbach
Phone: +49 (0) 3744 188860
www.vogtland-tourismus.de

• Experience World of Musical Instrument Making® Vogtland in Markneukirchen – experience the traditional craft of world-renowned musical instrument makers
• world's largest brick bridge – the Göltzsch Valley Bridge
• Vogtland Arena Klingenthal – Europe's most modern ski jumping hill

Difficulty level: easy to medium stage hike in consistently hilly terrain.