At the foot of the Fichtelberg (1,214 m/3,983ft), the highest peak in the Saxon Erzgebirge, is Oberwiesenthal, once a little hill town and now a popular holiday resort and crossing-point into the Czech Republic. Its development as a resort began at the end of the 19th C., when visitors were attracted to the area for winter sports.
The ascent of the Fichtelberg, near Oberwiesenthal (1,214 m/3,983ft) is a rewarding experience. On the summit stands the Fichtelberghaus (rebuilt 1965-67), with a 42 m/138ft high outlook tower, from which in clear weather there are magnificent views extending for up to 100km/60mi.
The easiest way to the summit is by the cableway (built 1924; 1,175 m/1,285yd long, height difference 305 m/1,000ft; cabins for 45 persons).
The Erzgebirgsbahn, a narrow-gauge railroad with steam engines which runs from Oberwiesenthal to Cranzahl, 17.3km/10.75mi away, is a great tourist attraction.
Near the Oberwiesenthal are ski slopes in varying grades of difficulty, with chair-lifts and ski-tows, a large ski-jump (1972-74) and three smaller jumps (both winter and summer skiing).
At Oberwiesenthal is a bob racing run (1,100 m/1,200yd long, 18 bends, drop of 134 m/440ft; starting-point on Fichtelberg plateau). There are also a biathlon course and langlauf trails. The Ski Stadium is on the road up the Fichtelberg.
In the Oberwiesenthal town center are numbers of attractive old houses, most of them built after the fire of 1863, with later alterations. In the Markt is a milestone of 1730 (originally used for measuring posting stages).
Below the Markt in Oberwiesenthal can be found the Martin Luther Church (consecrated 1866). In winter a large Weihnachtskrippe (Nativity scene) is set up in the church.
In the Altes Forsthaus in Oberwiesenthal at Karlsbader Strasse 3 is an interesting exhibition on the development of winter sports in the Fichtelberg area.
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