Circular hike from Oschatz to Wüstes Schloss

We leave the marketplace heading east via Altoschatzer Straße, which passes the City and Scales Museum. Across the green area at the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Promenade and Sperlingsberg, we reach Heinrich-Mann-Straße, which we follow to the left. Wettinstraße turns right, and shortly after, Gabelsbergerstraße turns left. This continues into Cunnersdorfer Straße, leading us about 600 meters to the district road at Anglerparadies. We keep left and, after 300 meters, right again. From here on, the Steinbach stream accompanies us to the castle ruins with Gothic and Romanesque architectural elements in the Oschatz city forest.

It was probably built at the beginning of the 13th century, was only in use for a short time, and was never really completed. With some imagination, one can picture life in the former three-story four-wing complex here. It is quite possible that the property was used as a hunting lodge. Old maps show game reserves in the region. The meadows, ponds, dams, and woods in the immediate vicinity of the then-called "Old Stone House" reinforce this use.

The return route leads via the street Am Wüsten Schloss heading south. After about one kilometer, we reach the village of Thalheim, home to an ostrich and an alpaca farm. This village is crossed completely eastward and then exited northwards via Thalheimer Straße. On the right are the Döllnitz stream and the tracks of the Döllnitzbahn. We pass through Altoschatz and cross the Eulensteg footbridge to the city park and arrive at the O-Schatz Park, a free-entry family, animal, and leisure park. Here you can play a game of minigolf or admire the world's second-largest coffee pot collection in the "O," the circular multi-purpose hall. Crossing the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Promenade and following Brauhausgasse, we reach the marketplace on the left and thus the starting point of the hike.

Sturdy footwear. Provisions and water if needed.

By car: Follow A14 to S38 in Grimma, take exit 32-Mutzschen on A14. Continue on S38, take Oschatzer Str. and Wermsdorfer Str. to Sporerstraße in Oschatz.

• Oschatz train station
• Döllnitzbahn stops

By public transport from Leipzig: Take the RE50 from the main station to Oschatz. Change to bus line 801 at Oschatz to Oschatz bus station. From there it is about 380 m on foot to the destination.

• St. Aegidien Church
• City and Scales Museum
• Wüstes Schloss Osterland
• O-Schatz Park

Route tip: Extend the route via Wüstes Schloss - Collm - Striesa - Oschatz (16 km)