The Gohrischheide Loop Trail covers 45 kilometers of flat terrain along roads, forest trails, and field paths through the diverse landscape surrounding the Gohrischheide Nature Reserve, combining nature experiences with insights into the region’s rich history and culture.
The route begins in Zeithain, where the Ehrenhain-Zeithain Memorial honors the victims of the former prisoner-of-war camp. Near the starting point is also the Saxon Fire Department Museum, which is well worth a visit; with over 3,000 square meters of exhibition space, it is one of the largest fire department museums in Germany (please check the opening hours in advance).
Also nearby: a striking obelisk. This commemoratesthe “Zeithainer Lustlager”—a Baroque military parade held by Augustus the Strong in the 18th century. For those interested, a specially designed bike route, the Lustlager Rundweg, begins here.
In Jacobsthal, you can admire a historic triangulation pillar, which is part of a 19th-century geodetic surveying system.
The route continues to Neuburxdorf, known for the remains of the Mühlberg prisoner-of-war camp. In Kosilenzien, an archaeological site—the old castle rampart—invites you to explore. It was built near the village sometime between the late Bronze Age and the early Iron Age. It’s also worth stopping here at the Burgwall Café, which features a lovely terrace.
In Nieska, the small village church—built after the model of Dresden’s Frauenkirche—is a delightful surprise. In Spansberg, the heath trail offers a viewing platform with a panoramic view of the Gohrisch Heath. It’s worth taking a detour into the heath, which is directly accessible in only a few places. The 6-meter-high observation tower offers a great view over the 70-hectare heathland.
The loop tour continues along the Gohrisch Heath—in the next town, Tiefenau, be sure to visit the castle and the Baroque castle church, which houses a Silbermann organ. The adjacent rose garden, with its pavilions, invites you to linger and also features a café (currently open only on Sundays and holidays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.).
Finally, the route passes through the Heidehäuser, where a forest trail called“Haidehäuser” offers another opportunity to explore the heath. The route then leads back to the starting point in Zeithain.
