Discover Werdau: City History and Nature

If you are looking for a hotel in Werdau, you can tailor your stay to a range of interests: city history and technology are options alongside trails through forests and countryside, cycling routes, and swimming facilities. The local attractions are easy to distinguish: a museum visit explores industrial history, a city walk takes you to historic landmarks, and a tour along the Flößergraben introduces you to nature.

City History and Technology in Werdau

The Werdau City and Steam Engine Museum brings together several historical perspectives. Its city model shows Werdau in 1628, with the town hall, castle, St. Mary's Church, and city wall. Archaeological finds document the city's origins around 1200. The collection also includes the largest collection of Fraureuth porcelain.

A special technical exhibit is a 600-horsepower steam engine from 1899, still at its original site and considered one of Saxony's most valuable industrial monuments. The museum grounds also feature a steam storage locomotive that visitors can enter and a miniature railway at a scale of 1:20. Its tracks are more than 300 metres long. The museum therefore focuses on city history as well as technology and the scale of industry.

The historic city walk also reveals notable traces of the past. It leads across the market square and to surviving sections of the city wall. Stops include the foundations of St. Aegidius Church, built around 1170 and demolished around 1629, as well as parts of the former Werdau Castle, a historic arcade, and a hillside cellar. Historic city walks can be booked through the museum for visits from May to October; check seasonal availability before your trip.

Town hall tours are a separate option and usually take between one and one and a half hours. The Werdau Nativity Trail is open only during the Christmas season. These different options can help with scheduling: city walks can be booked for visits from May to October, while the Nativity Trail is a Christmas-season attraction.

Hiking, Forest and Cycling Routes

The Flößergraben nature trail runs for 5.5 kilometres each way from Leubnitz to the Waldmannsruh forest restaurant. The trail starts on Trünziger Straße at the end of Leubnitz-Forst; parking is available near the forest barrier. The route passes entirely through the state forest managed by Sachsenforst. When planning your trip, note that the distance is one way.

Those interested in the history of rafting on the Pleiße can also join landscape tours along the Flößergraben. They cover rafting and tell stories about the forest, fields, wildlife, and the raftsman Ole. In Leubnitz, Werdau Forest and walks around Rohrteich, Stauweiher, and Elferteich offer more ways to explore the area on foot.

The Greiz-Werdau Forest has numerous hiking trails in a protected landscape area; many also serve as cycling and horse-riding routes. The Pleiße Cycle Route offers a longer ride: it is approximately 110 kilometres long, mostly paved with asphalt or paving stones, and suitable for families and recreational cyclists. The route heads south towards Werdau, with the Steam Engine Museum as a stop along the way. By comparison, the Flößergraben is a clearly defined walking route of 5.5 kilometres each way.

The Römertal Bridge in Werdau-Steinpleis is another notable structure: this brick viaduct is 224.87 metres long, 23 metres high, and has 13 large and 4 small round arches. This precisely described structure adds to the themes of city history and industry, while forest trails offer a different perspective on the surrounding area.

Swimming Pool and Trips to the Water

WEBALU is an indoor and outdoor swimming pool in Werdau with a sauna area. Facilities include swimming pools, children's and baby pools, an outdoor area, a slide, and a waterfall. Activities include aqua fitness, aqua jogging, water aerobics, rehabilitation sports, baby swimming, and swimming lessons. The on-site facilities are also useful for planning: WEBALU offers free parking, a motorhome pitch, charging points for e-bikes and electric cars, a shop, and step-free access.

The Koberbach Reservoir in Werdau-Langenhessen offers opportunities for water sports, hiking, fishing, and camping. At the beach, facilities include a long sandy shore, anchored bathing islands, and a large sunbathing lawn, as well as a snack bar, beach volleyball, and table tennis. The beach should be considered a summer attraction; check the dates before planning a visit.

Plan Your Journey and Stay

The Vogtlandbahn connects Werdau with the Vogtland region and Cheb in the Czech Republic. When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether you mainly want to visit museums and historic sites, spend time on hiking and cycling routes, or include swimming facilities in your plans. The activities described differ in distance, subject, and season, so plan your stay accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Waldenburg, Callenberg, Niederfrohna, Glauchau, Wildenfels, Oberwiera, Lichtentanne, Mülsen.

View the regional travel guide: Zwickauer Land.