Vogtland Panorama Trail® – Stage 1 (Netzschkau – Jocketa)
- 7:10 h
- 23.56 km
- 509 m
- 441 m
- 263 m
- 416 m
- 153 m
- Start: Netzschkau, Göltzschtal Bridge
- Destination: Jocketa
The impressive giant Göltzschtal Bridge is the fitting overture for this enchanting hiking trail, and in the final meters of the day’s walk the Elster Valley Bridge provides the furious final chord. The construction of the two gigantic brick bridges began in 1846 and ended, after only 5 years of construction, on June 15, 1851, with the simultaneous inauguration of both railway bridges.
Millions of red bricks were used, giving the bridges their characteristic color. 150,000 bricks were delivered daily from six nearby large brickworks and carefully installed by hand.
The Göltzschtal Bridge comprises an impressive 26 million bricks, while the “little sister” Elster Valley Bridge has 12 million. A special mortar was used in construction – a mixture of lime, sand, brick powder, alunite slag, and water, developed especially for the project by the Reichenbach pharmacist Heinrich Carl.
At times, over 2,500 workers were employed on the construction. The persistent legend that the designer fell off the Göltzschtal Bridge on the day of the inauguration because he feared the bridge would not bear the load is not true!
Note: Restrictions to hiking trails around the Elster Valley Bridge. Please inform yourself before your hike about possible restrictions or alternative routes.
Waypoints
Good to know
Pavements
- Unknown (20%)Asphalt (4%)Gravel (6%)Trail (31%)Path (38%)
Best to visit
- suitableDepends on weather
Directions
Directly beneath the impressively tall Göltzschtal Bridge begins the first stage of the Vogtland Panorama Trail®. The path goes briefly uphill before two routes split off towards Greiz and Reichenbach respectively. To the left, the path leads back down to the valley floor and runs along the steep side of the Göltzsch into the idyllic Friesenbach valley. From there, we continue along the narrow 'Köhlersteig' downhill to the confluence of the Göltzsch with the White Elster. The last section is especially captivating due to the wild rock scenery above the river.
Alternatively, you can start the Vogtland Panorama Trail® at the Greiz train station and add the walk on the Köhlersteig as a 'finale furioso' to the 12th stage. At the joining of both rivers, the routes meet. It crosses the Göltzsch and then ascends steeply to the plateau on the eastern side of the White Elster. The next destination is the Kriebelstein, an ideal resting spot high above the town of Elsterberg with its worth-seeing castle ruins.
Back down in the valley, the path now stays faithful to the White Elster until the Barthmühle. Always remaining on the eastern bank, the route goes upstream through the beautiful river valley, which fortunately is free of roads. Only occasionally does a train pass by. This does not diminish the idyll but rather enhances it – after all, this first stage is dedicated to two significant railway bridges.
After a short detour to the overgrown walls of Liebau Castle, the Elster Valley Bridge comes into view. Due to its position high above the narrow and rocky valley, it appears even more dramatic than the Göltzschtal Bridge, although it is not quite as tall or wide. At the Barthmühle, the tracks are crossed, the path leads under the bridge into the Trieb valley to the Pyramid Meadow. We cross a small bridge over the Trieb and climb up to Jocketa station.
Tour information
Stop at an Inn
Equipment
The VPW is a stage hiking trail and should therefore be tackled with appropriate equipment.
Directions & Parking facilities
- Getting thereEvery entry and end point is signposted in the route information and located near parking areas. You can access the Göltzschtal Bridge entry via the A 72 – exit Reichenbach or Treuen via Mylau to the Göltzschtal Bridge parking lot.ParkingA public parking lot is available at the Göltzschtal Bridge.Public transportation
Regular train connections between Netzschkau and Reichenbach as well as between Greiz and Jocketa with the Vogtlandbahn (www.vogtlandbahn.de). Further information is provided by the Vogtland Tourist and Traffic Center at 03744/19449 or www.vogtlandauskunft.de
Additional information
Vogtland Tourism Association e.V. – Tel. 03744 188860, information: Tourist and Traffic Center – Tel. 03744 19449
Tourist information offices: FVV Northern Vogtland – Tel. 03765 392808 (guided tours at the Göltzschtal Bridge), Greiz – Tel. 03661 689815, Elsterberg city administration – Tel. 036621 8810, Pöhl Dam – Tel. 037439 6778 or 4500
Literature
For further information please visit the Vogtland Tourism Association website at www.vogtland-tourismus.de or call 03744/188860 as well as other tourist information offices along the route
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
Points of interest: Göltzschtal Bridge (world's largest brick bridge), Göltzschtal (wild and romantic valley landscape in the lower reaches of the Göltzsch), Greiz (medieval townscape, Upper and Lower Castle), Elsterberg (castle ruins above old town), Steinicht (rock formations in the White Elster valley), Liebau Castle ruins (romantic overgrown castle walls), Elster Valley Bridge (world's second largest brick bridge), Trieb valley (narrow, gorge-like rocky valley)
Safety guidelines
Predominantly valley hiking, but with repeated ascents and descents to viewpoints, partly only narrow paths, surefootedness required on the Köhlersteig
Map
You can obtain the hiking guide for the VPW free of charge at the brochure shop at https://www.vogtland-tourismus.de/de/brochures.html