Rothenkirchen: Hiking Trails and Local History

You can explore Rothenkirchen as you plan your trip through its trails, landscape and local history. The topics range from a nature trail about herbs that connects three places to religious and commercial developments with specific dates.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

The “Herb Nature Trail” connects Schönheide, Stützengrün and Rothenkirchen; hikers can join at any point along the route. When planning, both the connection between the three places and the flexibility to join along the way are important. You can choose a starting point to suit your plans, rather than assuming there is just one fixed starting point.

The entire Kuhberg cross-country ski trail, including its connecting trails, is very well signposted. It has gentle to moderate climbs and descents. These provide two different points of reference for planning your route: the signs help with navigation, while the terrain is described by its climbs and descents. By contrast, the Herb Nature Trail focuses on connecting the places and offering different access points; for the Kuhberg trail, signage and terrain are the specific points of comparison.

The landscape can also be viewed through its geological formations. Steinberg’s andalusite mica schist emerges in striking, unusual forms along hiking trails in Auerbach, Rodewisch, Wernesgrün, Wildenau, Obercrinitz and Rothenkirchen. These include irregularly piled-up masses of stone and numerous boulder fields, such as the Jüdensteine and Joly-Stein. For geology enthusiasts, both the rock itself and the striking formations along the hiking trails are highlights.

Local History and Industry

Rothenkirchen was first mentioned in official records as a Waldhufendorf in 1441. The first service was held in the new church in 1796; a new organ by Trampeli was installed in Rothenkirchen’s church in 1800. The two church events took place four years apart: the installation of the organ followed the first service in the new church. Thus, an early record of the settlement stands alongside two successive events in the history of the church.

Other developments are part of the history of crafts and industry. In 1838, a bobbin-lace-making school was founded in Rothenkirchen at the initiative of Pastor Tobias August Friedrich Schmidt. Around 1850, the brush and brushwood industry established itself in Rothenkirchen. Franz Ströher founded a company there to manufacture and sell hair tulle, which later became Wella. The dates highlight different aspects: the bobbin-lace-making school has a specific founding year and founder, the arrival of the brush industry is dated to around 1850, and the Wella connection describes a later development stemming from Ströher’s company. The bobbin-lace-making school was founded about twelve years before the brush industry arrived.

“Erzgebirg. Holzkunst Kuhnert” is part of Rothenkirchen’s tourist offering. If you are looking for a hotel, you can plan your trip around whichever focus interests you most.

For the broader travel overview: Steinberg.