Waldheim

The tranquil town of Waldheim, located in the south-east of the Leipzig region, was first mentioned in the 12th century. Its surroundings are characterized by the course of the river Zschopau. The town's location and special architecture earned it the nickname "Pearl of the Zschopau Valley". The center surprises with many impressive buildings, many of them in Art Nouveau style. The imposing town hall from 1902 is located on the banks of the Zschopau, right next to the bridge built by Daniel Pöppelmann. The town hall tower with the second largest clock faces in Germany is remarkable. From the tower you have an impressive view over the town and the Zschopau valley. The town church  St. Nicolai, built in 1336 and burned down several times, now stands on the Kellerberg in a classicist style. The choir society has been cultivating the traditions of church music from the 16th to 18th centuries for over 450 years. The town and museum house, the former home of the 18th-century clothmaker Riehl, is home to the tourist information office. In the middle of the town lies the Waldheim prison, which emerged from the penitentiary, poorhouse and orphanage opened in 1716 under Elector Augustus the Strong and still serves as such today. It was set up in the former hunting lodge of Elector Christian I, an original castle complex from the 13th century.

Waldheim is a good starting point for exploring the natural paradise of the Zschopau Valley on one of the many cycling and hiking trails. For geology enthusiasts, the granulite mountains in particular are an Eldorado: you will be amazed at the variety of minerals here - amethyst, garnet, serpentine, titanium and the rare mineral prismatine can all be found there.

Tips:

• Guided tour of Waldheim's centuries-old tunnel system
• Guided tour of the museum on the 300-year history of Waldheim Prison