Border crossings - from steam locomotive rooms and forest magic

The starting point of this multi-faceted circular tour is Schmalzgrube station, a tranquil stop on the historic Preßnitz Valley Railway. On the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail, hikers follow the tracks towards Jöhstadt. With a bit of luck, a steam locomotive will puff through the narrow valley: a real highlight for train enthusiasts.

The trail leads through a pleasantly cool stream valley, past lovingly designed rest areas. In Jöhstadt, the route leaves the forest and leads first to the Preßnitz Valley Railway depot. From here, the route follows natural paths along the edge of the forest with impressive views of the idyllic little town in the Ore Mountains until it leaves the ridge path at Dürrenberg.

The trail now turns left into the dense forest and crosses the border into the Czech Republic. After a while, hikers reach the Preßnitz dam, a quiet, fascinating place with a rich history. Below the surface of the water lies the submerged village of Preßnitz, which was abandoned in the 1970s for the construction of the drinking water dam.

The route runs through the small village of Christophhammer in the Preßnitz valley back towards Schmalzgrube. Another highlight awaits shortly before the destination: the Schmalzgrube ironworks with its historic blast furnace is an impressive testimony to industrial culture and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region.

After a last look at this monument to times gone by, the tour ends back at Schmalzgrube station - full of impressions of nature, technology and history.

The tour is not consistently marked throughout. Please use the digital route.