Vogtland Attractions
The Vogtland, long a zone of transit between north and south, is a densely settled upland region, partly wooded and partly open, lying on both banks of the Weisse Elster at the point of junction between the Thuringian Forest and the Erzgebirge. At the higher levels exposed to the prevailing strong winds the climate is harsh, but rainfall is low, thanks to the shelter of the hills.
Linen and other cloths were already being produced here in the Middle Ages, and textiles are still the main source of income in many parts of the area. At Plauen, the largest town in the Vogtland, the production of machine-made embroidery was introduced in the mid 19th century, and Plauen is also famed for its lace.
The rivers of the Vogtland have long been harnessed to provide power and water supply. The largest modern dam is the Pöhl Dam (1958-64) in the valley of the Trieb, northeast of Plauen. The lakes formed by this dam and the Pirk Dam, west of Oelsnitz, are now popular recreation areas.
Linen and other cloths were already being produced here in the Middle Ages, and textiles are still the main source of income in many parts of the area. At Plauen, the largest town in the Vogtland, the production of machine-made embroidery was introduced in the mid 19th century, and Plauen is also famed for its lace.
The rivers of the Vogtland have long been harnessed to provide power and water supply. The largest modern dam is the Pöhl Dam (1958-64) in the valley of the Trieb, northeast of Plauen. The lakes formed by this dam and the Pirk Dam, west of Oelsnitz, are now popular recreation areas.
Musikwinkel
The southeastern Vogtland is known as the Musikwinkel ("Music Corner"). Musical instruments have been made in and around Klingenthal and Markneukirchen since the 17th C.
Baderwinkel
The Vogtland has a "Spa Corner" (Bäderwinkel) centered on Bad Elster and Bad Brambach. The most beautiful Vogtland village, famed for its richly decorated half-timbered houses, is Raun, southeast of Bad Elster.
Landscape
The undulating Vogtland plateau, slashed by deep, steep-sided winding valleys, rises from 450m/1,475ft to over 650m/2,130ft between Greiz in the north and Bad Brambach in the south.
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Vogtland - Elstergebirge, Germany
In the Elstergebirge, along the frontier with the Czech Republic, the hills rise to over 800m/2,625ft (Grosser Rammelsberg, 963m/3160ft).
