Thum: Hiking, Views and Culture

Thum offers specific hiking and cultural experiences to help you plan your trip. If you are looking for a hotel in Thum, you can see whether a local circular hike or the cultural history of nearby Herold fits your plans.

Hiking from Neumarkt: Circular Route and Views

The 7.52-kilometre circular hike starts and ends at Neumarkt and takes about 2 hours and 5 minutes. It includes the town’s animal park, the cactus garden and the Georgfelsen, also known as the Bastei. Other stops include the carving museum in Jahnsbach, the mining discovery trail and the narrow-gauge railway nature trail. The various destinations offer different highlights: views, animals and plants, as well as topics relating to woodcarving, mining and railways. The route length and approximate duration give you an idea of the hike’s scope; allow time for your own stops.

The Georgfelsen offers views over Thum and can be reached via trails through the town park and the surrounding forest. The viewpoint therefore connects with a variety of landscape features. Check trail conditions and access before setting out.

Cultural History in Nearby Herold

In Herold, a district of Thum, the former lime works is a cultural monument and is considered the oldest lime and marble works in the Ore Mountains. Access to the industrial remains may be restricted. The church in Herold contains an altar made of French limestone, featuring life-size figures. Herold thus brings together different cultural highlights: the former lime works and the distinctive church altar.

Getting There

The Thum/Markt stop is served by bus routes 196, 210, 238, 239, 240, 247, 412 and 432. Routes and timetables may change; check your connection before travelling.

Hiking and Culture in the Erzgebirgskreis

The signposted hiking network in the wider Erzgebirgskreis covers around 4,500 kilometres. The Ore Mountain Mining Region/Krušnohoří is also part of the regional context: it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019. This broader perspective complements the specific hiking and cultural experiences in Thum.

One distinct hiking route in the Erzgebirgskreis is the Schwarzenberg Panorama Trail. The 13.8-kilometre circular hike follows the heights around Schwarzenberg and takes about 4 hours and 5 minutes. By comparison, the Thum loop is shorter in both distance and approximate duration. Information about both hikes can help you compare routes of different lengths.

Traditional Ore Mountain folk art is also part of the region’s cultural identity: Seiffen is considered the cradle of Ore Mountain folk art. The Ore Mountain Open-Air Museum in the spa town of Seiffen features historic buildings and workshops from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its centrepiece is the original Preißler turning mill, preserved with its water-powered drive.

Discover more destinations: Crottendorf, Bärenstein, Amtsberg, Drebach, Gehringswalde, Lauter/Sachsen, Wiesa, Raschau-Markersbach.

For the broader travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.