© Frank Schmidt

Natural history in the Leipzig Region

On the volcanic trail

Supervolcanoes in the middle of Saxony? No worries, they stopped erupting millions of years ago. However, you can still follow the impressive traces they left behind and the best place to see these is the Geopark Porphyrland. Saxony's Stone Kingdom. Here, you will be given amazing insights into the natural and cultural history of the area.

The Stone Kingdom is aptly named to reflect the rich stone deposits in the area east of the city of Leipzig between the Hohburg Hills, the Collm at Oschatz and the Rochlitz Rock. The mining of resources such as kaolin and porphyry still characterises the region today as a significant landscape-forming industry. The fascinating geology of this landscape is witness to a series of explosive volcanic eruptions of gigantic proportions some 290 million years ago. In the Porphyry Land Geopark, the history of stone mining, the importance of kaolin for the production of everyday items such as ceramics, paper and cosmetics, which continues to this day, can be experienced by geology enthusiasts young and old.

On the lava and ice trails

Flyer about geotouristic attractions in the region

If you want to get an overview of the geotouristic attractions and events in the Leipzig region, the flyer "Auf den Spuren von Lava und Eis" (On the lava and ice trails) is a good guide. You can download it here or get it at the tourist information offices in Leipzig and the surrounding area as well as at all geoportals of the Geopark Porphyrland.

© Frank Schmidt

Visitor centres at the Porphyrland Geopark

A window on contemporary history

For anyone who loves to trace the tracks of bygone days, understand the effects of the past on the present and find inspiration for shaping a sustainable future, we recommend a visit to the Geoportals at Porphyrland. The portals are both a visitor centre and a departure point for discovery trips in the local area to geotopes and other sights.

The visitor centres regularly offer guided walks, discovery trails, geocaching, cycling and boating tours as well as lectures and workshops.

Geopark Porphyrland

National Geoparks serve to preserve, maintain, present and provide information on our geological heritage. They impart knowledge about the interrelationships in the earth's interior and on the earth's surface, about geophysics, geology, mineralogy, palaeontology and soil science, but also about industrial culture, botany and meteorology.

In Germany, 17 geoparks hold the title of "National Geopark". The Geopark Porphyrland. Saxony's Stone Kingdom has been one of them since 2014.

A map showing the geoportals in the Leipzig region.
© www.siesing.de, Wolfgang Siesing

Individual discovery tours

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