City and nature" hike
Mittelstadt · Grenzlandbaude · Neustadt · Schimmelfelsen · Nature Trail · Schimmelwiese · Steinbach · School Camp · Pferdegöpel (7 km)
On this route, you’ll discover the close connection between the urban and natural areas. Johanngeorgenstadt covers a large area of approximately 30 km². Nevertheless, you can enjoy the peace and relaxation of the surrounding area in no time at all from any point within the city. It’s not uncommon for people to envy those who live here. Given this ideal location, we highly recommend this route. There are only gentle inclines with no major difficulties.
The trail leads from the Tourist Information Office along Eibenstocker Straße to the Grenzlandbaude. Along the way, you’ll catch a glimpse of the new development area and, to the left of the path, the Pulverturm with its red pointed roof. Explosives for the mines used to be stored here. Right at the town’s highest point, at about 892 m, stands a large, ornate Schwibbogen. Following the route, you’ll reach the Kursächsische Distanzsäule from 1728. It is the only one of its kind in town and used to stand in the Old Town market square. A plaque in the post office, previously mounted at the entrance to the former “Hotel de Saxe” (later “Sachsenhof”), commemorates Goethe’s stay. The post office building itself was modeled after the style of old Ore Mountain hammer mill owners’ houses. Today, unfortunately, it is closed, and the plaque hangs in the town hall. From Schreyerallee, you can reach the remaining part of this natural monument via the street “Am Schimmelfelsen.” The actual rock was quarried away at the level of the former cultural center. Once back on “Am Schimmelfelsen,” a quiet and relaxing path leads down to the Schimmelwiese. Until 1939, the site of the house standing here was home to the mine workers’ quarters of the “Gottes Gnade am Schimmel” mine. Steinbachtalstraße leads slightly uphill to the foresters’ houses. Right on Eibenstocker Straße, a Royal Saxon milestone is worth seeing. Steinbach, situated on the ridge of the Ore Mountains, is a typical scattered settlement.
You now walk back to Neustadt. Pass the ski rental station and bowling alley and take the path to the elementary school. The indoor swimming pool and school hostel are also prominent facilities here. Leave Schulstraße in front of the Schwibbogen store and turn into "Erzengel". Here you have a beautiful distant view over to the Plattenberg (1,042 m) in Bohemia. Follow the Schwefelwerkstraße in the direction of Mittelstadt for 1 km to the Pferdegöpel and the reconstructed hat house of the "Eleonora-Stollen". A guided tour of these mining facilities at the end of the hike is possible and worthwhile. You can also enjoy refreshments in the traditional restaurant "Am Pferdegöpel".