Path to kaolin

At a glance

Start: Geoportal "Erlebniswelt Kaolin" at Mügeln railroad station, Bahnhofstraße 2, 04769 Mügeln
Destination: Geoportal "Erlebniswelt Kaolin" at Mügeln railroad station, Bahnhofstraße 2, 04769 Mügeln

Easy
7,88 km
2 hours
51 m
194 m
146 m

Themed trail with diverse insights into the mining and use of the material kaolin

At the beginning of the circular route, the Mügeln railroad station geoportal invites visitors to explore the geological formation of the raw material kaolin and the deposits in the "Land of the White Earth" around Mügeln and kaolin mining in the region with many multimedia perspectives in the "Kaolin Experience". Starting from the geoportal, the trail follows the traces of the "white gold" through the town of Mügeln to the active kaolin mine "Schleben/Crellenhain". Kemmlitz kaolin has been mined on the site since 1883. Since June 2025, the change in the mining field has made it possible to walk around the open-cast kaolin mine. Two viewing platforms offer a wide view of the mining area.

The circular route leads through the town of Mügeln in a variety of ways and touches on its sights: the town church of St. Johannis, the market square with the town hall, Ruhetal Castle and the Altmügelner Marienkirche church. With a bit of luck, the "Wild Robert", the narrow-gauge railroad running between Mügeln and Oschatz, will also whizz past. Many sections of the route run through the "green side" of the town of Mügeln - along the Döllnitz and the Kreuzgrund nature reserve.

Back at the Mügeln narrow-gauge railway station, a ride on the "Wild Robert" to Kemmlitz or Oschatz is almost a must...

Tour dashboard

Pavings

Unknown (11%)
Street (10%)
Tarmac (58%)
Gravel (5%)
Hiking trail (1%)
Path (14%)

Weather

General information

Information

Starting point

Destination

Directions

The kaolin hiking trail starts at the "Erlebniswelt Kaolin" geoportal at Mügeln railroad station, where you will find a parking area.

Follow Dr.-Friedrichs-Straße in an easterly direction for a short distance and turn into Clara-Zetkin-Straße. Via Goethestraße, Schulplatz, Promenadenstraße and Badergasse you will reach the Altmarkt. From here, walk along Schlossstraße over the tracks of the Döllnitzbahn to Schloss Ruhetal. The engagement bridge over the Döllnitz opens up the path along the little river - called Poetenweg. Cross Wermsdorfer Straße and continue straight ahead along Altmügelner Straße to St. Marien church. Here you have to go around the church wall once until you discover the hiking trail leading up the Lehmberg opposite the entrance gate. Follow this slightly ascending path up to the end of the settlement. This is where the premises of the Kemmlitz kaolin works begin, through which the path to the kaolin leads. Make sure you stay on the roads and paths that are marked and open to visitors! Walking on the embankments is not permitted as there is a risk of falling!
The path to the kaolin surrounds the open-cast kaolin mine with its two new viewing platforms. On the western side of the open-cast mine, the path winds its way between the edge of the open-cast mine and the nature reserve.
Once you have crossed the Gatsch River, follow the path straight ahead to Altmügelner Straße and turn left. Altmügelner Straße leads you back to the church of St. Marien. Once again around the cemetery wall, continue straight ahead into the beautiful Döllnitz valley. The field path leaves you at Nebitzschner Straße. To the left, the path leads straight ahead back to the starting point at Mügeln train station - through Nebitzschner Straße, Franz-Mehring-Straße, Ernst-Thälmann-Straße, Dr. Friedrichs-Straße to the train station. Friedrichs-Straße to Bahnhofsstraße.
In the town, around the market and Altmarkt, there are plenty of opportunities to rest, refuel and shop.

Necessary equipment

Tip

Parking

Public transport

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