Kriebstein: Castle, Reservoir and Cultural Landscape

Kriebstein combines a striking castle with the landscape around its reservoir. The Kriebstein Reservoir is nine kilometers long and lies in a landscape of near-natural mixed forests and floodplains. The Zschopau Valley is narrow and rocky; the Kriebstein Reservoir is a protected landscape area. This gives your trip two defining focal points: the landscape by the water and the castle’s architectural and cultural history.

Landscape and trails by the reservoir

The Tanneberg rockslide lies along the reservoir hiking trail and is considered a historic scree slope and a distinctive geological feature. For travelers interested in landforms, the rockslide is a specific point of interest along the trail.

Hiking, art and activities on the water

The Zschopau Valley Trail allows hikers to almost circle the reservoir on mostly waterside paths. The art trail around the reservoir offers a different focus, presenting nearly 40 works of art. Boat trips are possible on the reservoir; you can also rent rowboats or paddleboats. There are other hiking trails in the Zschopau Valley, and visitors can visit a high ropes course. The two trails differ primarily in their focus: the Zschopau Valley Trail is shaped by the shore and the lake, while the artworks are the main attraction on the art trail. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a hike.

The Wappenfelsen (Coat of Arms Rock) also has a traditional story behind its name: it is said to refer to an emblem of a student fraternity that students placed there.

Kriebstein Castle: Architectural form and historical details

Kriebstein Castle combines a tower castle and a ring castle on an oval ground plan; its residential tower is 45 meters high. The Kriebstein Room is a uniquely preserved painted timber room from the first third of the 15th century. The castle chapel’s murals are considered one of the best-preserved late medieval pictorial programs in the German-speaking world. The castle museum reopened in 1949. These details range from the overall complex to its interior decoration and the history of the museum.

Getting there and finding your way around

The large parking lot by the reservoir is a ten-minute walk from the castle. Kriebstein Castle is accessible by train via Waldheim station, which is about five kilometers from the castle. Kriebstein Castle is also on the Saxon Luther Trail. If traveling by train, plan the final leg from Waldheim. Before your trip, check current train connections, parking conditions and the route of the Luther Trail.

If you are looking for a hotel in Kriebstein, you can start by sorting out the reason for your trip according to your local interests: are trails and water, boat trips or the castle your main focus?

A regional look at Central Saxony

The wider destination of Central Saxony also offers distinctive cultural and natural attractions. At 353 meters high, Rochlitzer Berg is a remnant of volcanic activity; its red porphyry tuff is considered unique in Germany and Europe. In Central Saxony, Rochsburg Castle has housed a museum since 1911. The “People Make Clothes” exhibition there features 52 costumes from 1,000 years of European fashion history. The Central Saxony Cultural Summer is an annual, three-month summer festival with more than 40 events across Central Saxony; individual programs vary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ehrenberg, Rechenberg-Bienenmühle, Großschirma, Claußnitz, Halsbrücke, Frankenberg/Sachsen, Niederwiesa, Freiberg.

Back to the main travel guide: Central Saxony.