Vogtland Panorama Trail: a walking tour through Saxony's lush 'musical corner'

The Vogtland Panorama Trail around the Thuringia and Saxony borders begins and ends at an iconic architectural monument and the world's biggest brick bridge – the Göltzschtalbrücke.

The Vogtland region is situated at the borders of Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony and the Czech Republic. The Göltzschtalbrücke, south-east of Greiz, is an attractive choice for the start and end point of the circular Vogtland Panorama Trail. Just over 26 million bricks were used to build this 78-metre high bridge, which has 98 arches spread over four levels. From here, the Vogtland Panorama Trail continues along the Köhlersteig route to Greiz. This picture-perfect town with its beautiful Renaissance palace is known as the 'pearl of the Vogtland'. In Greiz, the trail follows the White Elster river upstream through the popular Steinicht climbing region to the Elster Valley Bridge. After passing through the spa resorts of Bad Elster and Bad Brambach, the trail ascends Kapellenberg hill, which offers magnificent views extending well into the Czech Republic. It's then on to towns and villages such as Markneukirchen, Erlbach and Klingenthal in the region known as the 'musical corner'. For 350 years, this area has produced accordions, recorders, zithers, guitars, mandolins and many other types of musical instrument. From the 936m peak of Mount Aschberg you walk along the mountain ridge to Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz, the birthplace of the "first German cosmonaut" Sigmund Jähn and home to the German Aerospace Exhibition. There is another impressive castle to see in Mylau, before the Vogtland Panorama Trail brings you full circle to the Göltzschtalbrücke.

Tip

German Aerospace Exhibition and training module for the Mir space station The village of Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz is home to the only museum in Germany dedicated solely to space travel. In Grünheide woodland park, you can visit the former training module for the Mir space station and imagine what it would be like as a cosmonaut.

At a glance

• Starts and ends: Göltzschtalbrücke, south-east of Greiz
• Length: 228km
• Number of stages: 12
• Altitude variation (approximate values): Ascent 8,600m, descent 8,600m
• Terrain: 42% unmade, 17% asphalt, 41% other, e.g. gravel