Old as a Tree

The history of the forest area goes back to the year 1081, when the forest was first mentioned in documents. In the 16th century, the Wermsdorf forest became more and more important when it became the property of the Saxon Elector August, who expanded his holdings by purchasing the Starschedel estates - today Mutzschen Castle. The forest, which once consisted mainly of oak and birch trees, was to be expanded through reforestation. The generals of Starschedel also had numerous ponds and dams built around 500 years ago. These were also later purchased by Elector August.

In the 17th century, King August the Strong and Prince Anton Egon von Fürstenberg introduced par force hunting. Par force hunting is a hunt in which a pack of dogs is accompanied on horseback. In 1699, the Wermsdorf Forest was the venue for the first time. For this reason, the entire forest area was divided into right-angled avenues. November 3rd has always been known as "Hubertus Day" to commemorate this hunt. In those days, not only was music composed for this hunt, but a large, expensive festival was also held. For this reason, the Hubertusburg Wermsdorf was built in 1721, which also served as the venue for this festival.

In 1764, the Wermsdorf Forest was surveyed by Carl Ludwig von Laßberg, the first Saxon chief forester. He also carried out the first attempts at reforestation. However, it was not until 1822 that extensive reforestation of the forest was undertaken on behalf of Heinrich von Cotta, founder of the Tharandt Forestry Academy, and the forest was to be converted into a coniferous forest. This project was followed by a reduction in the game population and livestock farming in the area, so that by 1900 the coniferous tree population had increased from an initial six percent to 90 percent.

In 1962, the Wermsdorf Forest was finally declared a landscape conservation area. Today, hunting in the forest area mainly serves to adjust the game population. Red deer, wild boar and roe deer in particular leave their tracks there. The top priority now is natural forest management. The forest is owned by the Free State of Saxony and is managed by three state forest districts: Collm, Wermsdorf and Horstsee.

Early settlement

The area around the Wermsdorf Forest was settled by people at an early stage, as evidenced by historical finds from the Lommatzscher Pflege and Bronze Age graves in the Wermsdorf Forest. Wermsdorf itself is a German settlement, but many of the surrounding villages that end in "-itz" or "-titz" suggest Slavic origins. Wermsdorf itself was first mentioned in a document in 1241 with Burchardus Werenboldestorp.

Sights in the midst of idyllic nature

The entire area of ​​the Wermsdorf Forest is an experience in itself. Surrounded by meter-high treetops, visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With a little luck, you can spot rare species of water birds in the numerous forest ponds between dense reed belts. 26 of the ponds were artificially created for the purpose of fish farming.

The largest and most water-rich lake is the Döllnitzsee with an area of ​​86 hectares. This makes it one of the largest fish ponds in all of Saxony. The lake was originally constructed in 1850. However, the operator of the open-cast mine had to use it as a replacement lake for the Elstersee, which fell victim to the brown coal open-cast mining. A fishing stele by the Leipzig artist Bruno Kuba commemorates the construction of the lake. The work illustrates the connection between tradition and progress in inland fishing and is thus a monument to the over 400-year-old inland fishing tradition. The four figures depicted on the stele show the work of a fisherman over the course of time.

The most famous lake is the nearby Horstsee, which covers 70 hectares. Its name comes from the island in the middle of the lake, which is referred to as “the Horst” in historical documents.

In the western part of the forest is the cultural landscape museum around the area of ​​the "Kirchenteich", the "Drei-Teichen" and the "Doktorteich". Excavations were carried out at the "Wüstes Dorf Nennewitz" archaeological site until 1993, which revealed relics from 3.000 years of human settlement in the area. Today, the archaeological site attracts many interested visitors as an open-air museum. In addition to the Bronze Age burial ground, the ruins of a medieval tower hill castle and the floor plan of a church with a cemetery, visitors can also view a former pitch and pit boiling plant. Elaborately designed display boards inform visitors about the historical witnesses.

Another popular excursion destination is the Collmberg. At 314 meters, it is the highest elevation in the Leipzig lowland bay. On the southwest side of the mountain there is another natural monument: a quarry provides amazing insights into the geological development of the region. The presence of quartzitic greywacke as bedrock is proof that the region was formed more than 500 million years ago. The Collmberg has always been of great importance to the local residents. In the Middle Ages, for example, it served as protection against raids. The Albert Tower has been on the mountain since 1854. As early as 1629, the then Elector Johann Georg I wanted to have a tower built on the mountain - but the Thirty Years' War thwarted his plans. Named after King Albert of Saxony, the observation tower today offers a panoramic view of the Wermsdorf Forest and the Dahlen Heath. In good weather, you can even see the Battle of the Nations Monument and the City Tower in Leipzig. In addition, between 1927 and 1932 a new building for the geophysical observatory of the University of Leipzig was constructed on the Collmberg, which was expanded in 1935 to include a seismographic station. The construction was made possible by financial support from the Rockefeller Foundation.

hospitality in the countryside

If you want to get some strength, there are numerous places to stop in Wermsdorf. The Hotel Seehof Döllnitzsee invites you to the picturesque shore of the lake of the same name. In an alpine atmosphere, guests can try the tasty specialties of the house and enjoy an incomparable view of Hubertusburg Castle, the largest hunting lodge in Europe. If you want to spend several days in Wermsdorf, the hotel offers 20 comfortable double rooms in a country house style. The Seegasthof am Horstsee, just 300 meters away, provides a sporting balance with fishing and bowling. In addition to an extensive gastronomic offer, guests can go on a boat tour with the hotel's own fleet of pedal boats and rowing boats.

There are also options for those who are a little hungry between meals. Café Wach in the Collm district invites you to enjoy a delicious piece of cake and coffee. In addition, the café at Wermsdorf Castle offers cakes and tarts as well as unusual waffle and ice cream creations. If you want to take a piece of the region home with you, you can buy regional and seasonal fruit and vegetables as well as fresh milk and meat products at the Paulsen organic farm in Luppa. Numerous other farm shops, such as in Mahlis, also sell products made on site and place particular emphasis on freshness. One farm that is inextricably linked to Wermsdorf is the Eskilden goose farm. The company has been based between Mutzschen and Wermsdorf since 1990. In addition to free-range geese farming, there is also a down factory and a farm shop with "Grandma Grete's farm kitchen". Home-made specialties are offered here.

Unique events

The Malkwitz Volunteer Fire Department traditionally kicks off the event year in Wermsdorf and the surrounding area with the Easter spraying and the raising of the maypole. During the summer holidays, children and young people in particular get their money's worth in the Wermsdorf forest: the Friedrich Gustav Klemm Society for Cultural History and Open-Air Museums eV offers a holiday camp for five weeks. Schoolchildren from all over Saxony and members from all over Germany can look forward to a unique adventure in nature. In autumn, a special event awaits visitors to Wermsdorf: the Leisnig equestrian club invites you to the traditional drag hunt in the Wermsdorf forest. You can enjoy nature in a carriage, on a chariot or even on horseback. Accompanied by a Geiseltal Beagel pack, you can imagine the time of the par force hunt during the lifetime of August the Strong.

The annual "Horstsee fishing" on the second weekend in October is also a firm tradition. The festival attracts visitors from near and far, who can take the freshly caught fish home with them if they wish. The festival is opened by the current Saxon fish queen. Events also await guests in the region at the end of each year: for example, the kite festival in October on Mühlberg Collm or the Wermsdorf goose market, which gets visitors in the mood for Christmas in a cozy atmosphere. In addition to the Christmas market on the Malkwitz village square, the Lampersdorf fire department invites visitors to the traditional mulled wine festival.

Hiking frees the soul

The Wermsdorf Forest is the perfect starting point for long hikes or walks. The extraordinary network of paths is based on the division into avenues 1740/41. There are plenty of shelters and parking spaces along the well-signposted hiking trails. There are also guided tours in Wermsdorf: together with tour guides and georangers, you can go on an interesting tour to the most beautiful corners of the town. A large number of cycle paths, such as the Mulde-Elbe cycle path or the Döllnitztal cycle route, lead around Wermsdorf.

Useful information at a glance

The town of Wermsdorf is easily accessible via the A14 motorway and the B6 federal highway. The town can also be reached by train: Dahlen station is located not far from the Malkwitz district on the Leipzig-Dresden railway line.