The “Herb Trail” connects Rothenkirchen with Schönheide and Stützengrün. The town’s history, meanwhile, tells the story from its first documented mention as a Waldhufendorf (a forest-strip village) through its church, crafts and industry. This gives you different options when planning your trip: trails through forests and countryside, or historical developments spanning several centuries.
Hiking Trails and Landscape
The “Herb Trail” is about 6 km long and runs through the forest around Kuhberg. Hikers can join the route at any point. Its length and access points give the trail a clear profile: you can get a sense of the approximate distance without having to start at just one designated point.
The Kuhberg cross-country ski trail, including its connecting trails, has different features to help you find your way. The entire route is very well signposted and includes gentle to moderate climbs and descents. This means you can assess the route not only by its signage but also by the terrain. The Herb Trail and ski trail therefore differ in the information that matters when choosing a route. In winter, the trail can be used for hiking and cross-country skiing, but it is not groomed.
The rock formations also give the hiking trails a geological dimension. Andalusite mica schist at Steinberg appears in striking forms along hiking trails in Rothenkirchen, Auerbach, Rodewisch, WernesgrĂĽn, Wildenau and Obercrinitz, with irregularly piled-up masses of rock and numerous scree slopes. These formations include the JĂĽdensteine and Joly-Stein. By looking out for the rocks and terrain as you go, you can discover another aspect of the landscape alongside the route itself.
Church, Crafts and Industry
Rothenkirchen was first mentioned in a document in 1441 as a Waldhufendorf. Two dates are closely connected in the history of its church: the first service was held in the new church in 1796, and a new organ by Trampeli was installed there in 1800. The two events mark different stages in the church’s history, from the first service to the installation of a new organ.
The history of crafts and industry also reaches back to the 19th century. In 1838, a lace-making school was founded in Rothenkirchen at the initiative of Pastor Tobias August Friedrich Schmidt. Around 1850, the brush and brushwood industry took hold. These developments add to the history of the church and show different sides of local history: a school founded to teach lace-making and an industry in the process of developing.
Another company’s history is linked to Franz Ströher. He founded a company in Rothenkirchen to manufacture and sell hair tulle; it later became Wella. Local history thus encompasses not only the church, lace-making and brush production, but also the development of a company whose later name became known far beyond Rothenkirchen.
The tourist attractions in Rothenkirchen include “Erzgebirg. Holzkunst Kuhnert”.
For the wider travel overview: Steinberg.
