Schönwölkau: Mills, Village Churches and Baroque Architecture

Schönwölkau is home to several historical attractions: the history of mills and blacksmithing in Badrina and Hohenroda, village churches in Mocherwitz and Brinnis, and Schönwölkau Palace and Park. If you are looking for a hotel, you can consider which of these attractions you would like to include in your stay. Information about rail and road connections will also help you plan your journey.

Getting here by rail and road

There is a rail stop in Hohenroda; Krensitz station is just outside the municipal boundary. Trains operated by Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn stop at both locations every two hours. Check the timetable before travelling. Federal Highway 2 runs through the municipality; Schönwölkau can be reached from the A14 via the Leipzig-Mitte exit. This information gives you different points of reference for planning your journey without specifying a particular travel time.

Mills and the history of blacksmithing

The historic watermill in Badrina is the oldest documented facility of its kind in the Delitzsch area. Visitors can also see a traditional rural smithy with historic equipment and tools. The Old Smithy in Badrina dates from the second half of the 18th century; the core of the building goes back to the 15th century. A family of master blacksmiths owned the smithy for generations. It served as a horseshoe and wagon smithy until the 20th century. The two dates therefore distinguish the older building core from the later structure.

The post mill in Hohenroda has been open to visitors again since 1999. The oven can also be used to bake bread, provided you register in advance. Since arrangements for this activity may change, check with the site before making plans. This helps distinguish a general visit to the mill from using the oven, which requires advance registration.

Village churches in Mocherwitz and Brinnis

Mocherwitz village church has a Romanesque core dating from the 11th century and was altered in 1579 and 1720. The plastered building of fieldstone and rubble stone has half-timbering in the upper part of the tower and in the chancel gable. Its furnishings also include clearly dated items: three bronze bells, one from the 14th century and two from 1881. There is also a baptismal font from 1600, a Baroque organ from 1721 and a wooden altar screen from 1892. The building history and the dates of the furnishings offer different points of reference for understanding the church.

Brinnis village church also has a Romanesque core. Its chancel extension dates from 1518; the raised nave and west portal date from 1557. The building is made of plastered fieldstone and rubble stone, with a three-sided chancel, buttresses and a rectangular west tower. Notable features of the interior include a coffered plaster ceiling, single- and two-tier galleries, and a net vault in the chancel. Most of the furnishings date from 1830. Unlike Mocherwitz, Brinnis stands out for its dated construction phases and interior design.

Schönwölkau Palace and Park

Schönwölkau Palace and Park add another architectural highlight. The large Baroque complex with four wings and an adjoining farmyard is considered one of Saxony’s most significant Baroque palaces. Together with the mills and churches, it shows the variety of historical attractions in Schönwölkau. The buildings that interest you most can be a useful starting point when choosing a hotel; information about access and rail services can help with your planning.

Discover more destinations: Zinna, Mockrehna, Bad Düben, Löbnitz, Elsnig, Jesewitz, Naundorf, Arzberg.

Return to the regional travel overview: North Saxony.