The starting point of the hiking route is the large parking area in Kriebstein (directly on Kriebsteiner Straße K8215). On site, a large information board welcomes us and provides an overview of the location and departure times of the various ferry connections at the Kriebstein reservoir.
Our hiking route runs about 200 meters straight on the paved road "An der Talsperre." Then a wider forest path leads left towards Kriebstein Castle, which we follow straight for about 400 meters. A signpost at a junction shows us the way to the right. Along a hill that offers a beautiful view of the Zschopau river loop and partly hints at the mighty knight's castle, we reach after a left-right bend the parking lot at the Kriebstein ice cream café. Furthermore, we reach Kriebsteiner Straße, which we follow to the right. For the next 300 meters, it is advisable to walk against the direction of traffic downhill due to the narrow road conditions and the lack of sidewalks. Directly on the route, Kriebstein Castle, Saxony's most beautiful knight's castle, invites us on a discovery tour back to the Middle Ages. From the outside, the completely preserved closed building from the late Gothic period appears impregnable. The monumental residential tower with its late medieval bay turret rises 45 meters above the defensive walls. Inside the castle, from the deepest cellar to the historically preserved attic floors, among other things, the castle chapel with valuable paintings from around 1410, the Kriebstein room, and the furnished interior rooms of the von Arnim family can be visited. A break in the castle tavern "Zum Hungerturm" is also recommended here.
Below the castle portal, a finely gravelled footpath leads us downhill over the castle parking lot and then to the right, following the Lutherweg Sachsen, to the Grunau Bridge. This spans the wildly rushing river as a stable metal-wood construction with 83 meters. From the bridge, the castle, perched on a steep rock over the dam of the Zschopau, offers an impressive photo motif once again. Following the white-red-white marking and the signs to Lochmühle, we reach after about 300 meters a shelter and shortly thereafter a stone staircase on the right. We climb the steps and continue to follow the markings along the forest path, which lead us again over some steps up to the lookout platform. At an altitude of 250 meters, a charming view opens up over the reservoir and the upstream dam. Two benches allow for a soothing rest. Since 1940, the Kriebstein reservoir has been a protected landscape area. It is 9 kilometers long, covers an area of 132 hectares, and has a storage volume of 11.3 million cubic meters. The dam is 235 meters long at the crown and serves energy generation and flood protection.
Further along our forest path, we soon reach the highest point of our hiking route at 270 meters. The path winds through the forest, crosses a small wooden bridge, and then immediately turns right. After about 200 meters, a signpost at a larger intersection indicates the direction to the Erlebach ferry. We cross this wider forest path, leave the shelter on the right behind us, and follow the path mainly along the edge of the field for about 700 meters. Then we come to a paved road (Lochmühlenstraße), which we follow to the right according to signage. It leads us down in a large left and then right curve to the former Lochmühle restaurant. We continue our hike on the marked circular path, which on this last section is both the Zschopau Valley and Lutherweg. Next, we take the natural but still passable Nordhäuser Weg, which leads us to a bungalow settlement. Soon after, via a forest path that turns slightly left twice, we reach the Mittelbach tavern. Numerous seating options invite you to rest here with a view of the reservoir.
A narrow shore-adjacent hiking path now leads past weekend properties and boat docks to the Erlebach ferry dock. Beautiful views of the Kriebstein harbor with its lakeside stage and the dam can be glimpsed again and again. The ferry departs hourly (schedule at www.kriebsteintalsperre.de). Upon arriving at Kriebstein harbor, we have solid ground under our feet again and walk to the right towards the lakeside stage and treehouse hotel past the dam once again and reach after about 600 meters our starting point, the large parking area.
