Cycling around the village - Jössnitz I

A Church Steinsdorf with Peter Breuer Altar

The baroque village church of Steinsdorf is a gem of sacred art in the Vogtland. The rectangular little church with the square west tower has a curved slate roof and an onion dome. It was probably built around 1400. The church, lovingly and expensively renovated from 2008 to 2010, awaits a stable congregation, guests, and welcoming hikers. Inside the church is a late Gothic winged altar created in 1497 by the sculptor Peter Breuer from Zwickau (1472–1541). It is the oldest and best-known work of the student of Tilman Riemenschneider. The figures are attributed to his hand, while the painting of the wings was done by other artists. This valuable pre-Reformation altar was affected by two overpaintings. Around 1700, the altar's colors were adapted to the baroque design of the church.

B Syrau Windmill

The windmill in Syrau is the only Dutch windmill in the Vogtland, Germany. It was built in 1864 with two milling mechanisms, completely destroyed by lightning, and had to be rebuilt. Milling operation continued until 1929. In 1934, the mill was declared a monument and shortly thereafter bought by the municipality. Since 1982, the mill has been open as a museum.

C Dragon's Cave Syrau

The Dragon's Cave in Syrau invites you into the underground world of bizarre rock formations. Quarry master Ludwig Undeutsch accidentally discovered the cave in 1928 while working at the Syrau limestone quarry. The 15-meter-deep dripstone cave offers visitors the opportunity, during a 40-minute guided tour, to admire fascinating rock and clay formations – a specialty of the Dragon's Cave – as well as extraordinary sinter formations. The most beautiful sinter formations have been named, such as the “Elephant’s Ear.” Particularly impressive is the about 40-meter-long and up to 9-meter-high “Walhalla” – a rock bell with a crystal-clear fairy-tale landscape, where a fascinating laser show transports visitors into a magical world.