Rochlitzer Berg porphyry nature trail
- 0:44 h
- 2.59 km
- 29 m
- 29 m
- 314 m
- 342 m
- 28 m
- Start: Rochlitzer Berg - Parking lot south, Rochlitzer Berg, 09306 Rochlitz
- Destination: Rochlitzer Berg - Parking lot south, Rochlitzer Berg, 09306 Rochlitz
Along the porphyry nature trail on Rochlitz Hill, you can learn a lot about the World Heritage stone Rochlitz Porphyry Tuff at 15 stations. In addition to insights into the quarries and the life of the stonemasons, the history of the formation of Rochlitz Mountain and the globally unique volcanic rock is also presented. The two viewing points at the 60-metre-deep Gleisberg quarry (national geotope) and the panoramic view of the Rochlitz surrounding area from the Friedrich August Tower are a "must" for an excursion to Rochlitz Hill.
The "Porphyry House" visitor center (geoportal) located next to the Gleisberg quarry provides information about the geology and industrial history of the Rochlitz mountain as well as other interesting destinations in the National Geopark "Porphyry Land. Rich in Stone in Saxony". The house is an extracurricular place of learning and a popular venue for events. Lectures, workshops and creative activities take place here.
Since June 2025, the porphyry nature trail has also been available as an audio time travel "Porphyry Nature Trail To Go" - with entertaining audio stories at 15 stations - especially for families with children - and additional reading material for inquisitive minds. Simply scan the QR code or start the audio stories here.
Good to know
Best to visit
- suitableDepends on weather
Directions
The starting point is the south parking lot on the mountain, where interested visitors are introduced to the Rochlitz mountain and the Seelitz adventure tour on an overview board. The porphyry nature trail leads along the mountain road to the first point of interest, the mountain cellar. Another 200 meters in a northerly direction, past the horse stable, you reach the Haberkorn quarry with its unique color grain of the rock. Back on the mountain road, the route continues past the Böhmestein stone to the panoramic view at the bus loop, where long-distance destinations where Rochlitz porphyry was used are indicated.
The next stop is the hermitage at Seidelbruch, which once served as modest accommodation for hikers and stonemasons. The unique architecture of the hermitage, which blends in with its surroundings, is particularly worth seeing. After another 80 meters or so, a small hill, the Königshöhe, appears on the left. Its monument was erected to commemorate the return of King Friedrich August I of Saxony from Allied captivity in 1815. After the Königshöhe, the mountain road continues to the entrance of the Gleisberg quarry, past old witnesses to history such as the smithy and the social building, now the Porphyry House geoportal of the Porphyry Land Geopark. On the right-hand side of the entrance to the Gleisberg quarry, the former workplace of the stonemasons, the historical shelter, has been recreated to familiarize visitors with the former techniques of stone processing. A special feature awaits visitors in the rear third of the quarry: the 70-metre vertical drop in the porphyry walls with carved dates of the stonemasons.
A beautiful forest path leads on to a viewing platform above the Gleisberg quarry, which offers a breathtaking view of the quarry. The last stop on the nature trail is the summit of the mountain with the Friedrich August Tower, which was built in memory of King Friedrich August II of Saxony, the Türmerhaus, where the ornithologist Rudolf Zimmermann once lived, and the "Türmerhaus" mountain restaurant. The interesting and informative tour of the porphyry quarries ends with a view of the surrounding area from the observation tower.
Tour information
Loop Road
Equipment
Sturdy shoes or sports shoes, weatherproof clothing, provisions and water if required.
Directions & Parking facilities
- Getting there
Highway A4 exit 70 Chemnitz-Glösa, then federal highway B107 to Rochlitz, B175 to Rochlitzer Berg
or highway A72 to exit 22 Rochlitz, then federal highway B175 to Rochlitzer Berg
ParkingRochlitzer Berg - Parking lot south, Rochlitzer Berg, 09306 Rochlitz
Public transportationTake the regional express RE6 from Chemnitz or Leipzig to Geithain, then bus 629 Geithain - Rochlitz.
Additional information
An accompanying booklet on the porphyry nature trail is available.
https://www.rochlitzer-muldental.de/
https://www.geopark-porphyrland.de/
Information on the audio time travel "Porphyry nature trail To Go"
Author
Verena Daser
Organization
LEIPZIG REGION
License (master data)
Verena Daser
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
In addition to the porphyry nature trail, the Porphyry World on Rochlitz Hill also includes the Seelitz adventure tour and the Wechselburg forest adventure trail.
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