Ansprung: Valleys, Views and Serpentine Stone

Hiking between the Schwarzwassertal and Rungstocktal valleys

Ansprung borders the Schwarzwassertal and Rungstocktal valleys; both offer hiking landscapes right on the doorstep. In the Schwarzwassertal, the Nonnenfelsen, Teufelsmauer, Katzenstein and Vogeltoffelfelsen are among the striking rock formations. The landscape therefore has two distinct levels: the neighboring valleys provide the broader setting, while the four rocks identify specific features of the Schwarzwassertal. If you are choosing an area based on a particular natural feature, you can also get your bearings in the Schwarzwassertal by looking for these named formations.

Views and circular walk

The Morgensternhöhe, an excursion destination between Zöblitz and Ansprung, offers far-reaching views across the Ore Mountains. It is about one kilometer from the center of Ansprung and around 70 meters higher. These two approximate figures answer different questions: the kilometer puts the viewpoint in relation to the town center, while the 70 meters describe the difference in elevation. This helps you locate the Morgensternhöhe without confusing the distance with the length of a circular route.

A moderately difficult, 5.48-kilometer circular hike starts and ends at the Hüttstattmühle in Ansprung. It passes through the Schwarzwassertal and links the viewpoints at Stiftskanzel, Morgensternhöhe and Vogeltoffelfelsen. The Morgensternhöhe thus features in two different contexts: as an excursion destination between Zöblitz and Ansprung, and as a stop along a circular route. The approximately one kilometer to the town center and the 5.48 kilometers of the circular hike are different measures; the latter is the length of the entire route. Trail conditions may vary by season, so it is worth planning your hike with the time of year in mind.

A nature station offers a changing seasonal exhibition. If you would like to include the station in your hike, check in advance which exhibition will be on display during your travel dates.

Serpentine stone and local history

A regional craft tradition can be explored through the art of turning serpentine stone. The soft stone was turned into vessels, and the craft developed in the area up to the late 16th century. The term therefore refers to more than the name of a material: it points to a specific way of working the stone and the vessels made from it. For travelers interested in learning about the history of a craft as well as the hiking landscape, this offers a distinct point of interest.

The Hüttstattmühle lies southwest of Ansprung and serves as the start and finish of the circular hike described here. Its history can be seen as a sequence of different uses: it was built as a glassworks, later used as a grain mill, and converted into a youth hostel in 1917. The year refers to this conversion, not to its construction as a glassworks. This makes the mill’s role in the hike and its former use clear as two separate points of reference.

For the broader travel overview: Zöblitz.