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Ore Mountains Attractions Erzgebirge

Situation and topography
The Erzgebirge range lies on the German-Czech border, extending for some 130km/80mi from southwest to northeast between the Elstergebirge and the Elbsandsteingebirge (Elbe Sandstone Hills), with a breadth of 40km/25mi.

Eastern Erzgebirge

Like the western part of the range, the eastern Erzgebirge is a popular recreation area at all times of year. In the Gottleuba valley are Berggiesshübel (Kneipp cure), which has been operating as a spa since 1722 and Bad Gottleuba, a spa since 1861 (chalybeate springs; mud baths). At Frauenstein, on the edge of the Obere Freiberger Mulde landscape reserve, can be seen the ruins of one of the largest castles in Saxony. There are other castles at Dohna, Weesenstein, Bärenstein and Lauenstein in the Müglitz valley.
The principal attractions at the higher levels in the eastern Erzgebirge are the hill towns of Altenberg and Geising with their demonstration mines; the Geisingberg, a round-topped basalt hill (824 m/2,704ft) on which the mining of tin (still continuing) began around 1440; the scattered village of Zinnwald-Georgenfeld, on the crest ridge of the Erzgebirge; the Kahleberg (905 m/2,969ft), the highest peak in the eastern Erzgebirge, with the Blockmeer nature reserve; and the Georgenfeld moors, also a nature reserve.

Western Erzgebirge

The western Erzgebirge offers a wide range of features of interest, recreation areas and holiday centers. Among them are the Augustusburg, a 16th C. hunting lodge of the Electors of Saxony situated on the edge of the Zschopau valley, within easy reach of Chemnitz; the Sachsenring motor-racing circuit (8.7km/5.5mi long) at Hohenstein-Ernstthal; Schneeberg; the outlook tower on the forest-covered Auersberg; the well planned little town of Annaberg, with its monumental Late Gothic church of St Anne and the Frohnauer, an old ironworks; and the health resort of Seiffen, center of the Saxon toy-making industry, with the Erzgebirge Toy Museum.
Artificial lakes
Among popular recreation areas, particularly in summer, are the numerous artificial lakes (reservoirs) formed by the building of dams (e.g. on the Flöhe, the Rauschenbach and the Sosa).