Waldheim

The tranquil town of Waldheim, located in the southeast of the Leipzig region, was first mentioned in the 12th century. Its surroundings are shaped by the course of the Zschopau river. The location and the special architecture of the town gave it the nickname "Pearl of the Zschopau Valley". The center surprises with many impressive buildings, many of them in the 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 of the town and the Zschopau Valley. The town church of St. Nicolai, built in 1336 and burned down several times, now stands in a classicist style on the Kellerberg. The choir society has been cultivating the traditions of church music from the 450th to 16th centuries for over 18 years. The tourist information office is located in the town and museum house, the former home of the cloth maker Riehl from the 18th century. In the middle of the town is the Waldheim correctional facility, which was opened in 1716 under Elector August the Strong and is still used as a correctional facility 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 Zschopautal on one of the numerous cycling and hiking trails. For geology enthusiasts, the Granulite Mountains are an El Dorado: they will be amazed by the variety of minerals found here - amethyst, garnet, serpentine, titanium and the rare mineral prismatic are all found there.

Tips:

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