8 or 5 days of indulgent walking in Vogtland

Walking in Saxony’s spa region around Bad Elster, Bad Brambach and the Bohemian Franzensbad.

Day 1: arrival

Arrival at the hotel in Bad Elster; parking at or near the hotel is free; please note: no arrivals on Thursdays!

After settling into your comfortable room, there’s time for a stroll through the park, to the Kurhaus or the Albertbad.

Each day’s walk is planned to leave you plenty of time to try one of the many treatments at the Albertbad, take the waters or enjoy a bath.

Day 2: walk to Bad Brambach

Walk from the hotel to the Vogtland-Panoramaweg, follow it to the listed village of Raun, then continue to Bad Brambach; after a refreshment stop return to Bad Elster by public transport,

Walking distance approx. 13 km, 270 metres of ascent

Day 3: On the Vogtland-Panoramaweg

In the morning take the public bus to Oelsnitz; walk the Vogtland-Panoramaweg along the Weißen Elster to Hundsgrün, then on to the Arnsgrüner Höhe and follow the Kirchsteig back to Bad Elster

(approx. 18 km, 490 metres of ascent)

Alternatively: take the bus only as far as Hundsgrün, then approx. 13 km, 390 metres of ascent

Day 4: Eger and Franzensbad

From Bad Elster station take the Vogtlandbahn to Eger/Cheb; walk to the market square, then along the reservoir to the extinct volcano Kammerbühl, continue from there to Franzensbad for a look around; return by train to Bad Elster

(approx. 14 km, 310 metres of ascent)

Day 5: Landwüst and Markneukirchen

First a short taxi transfer to Sohl; walk to the Freiluftmuseum Landwüst, then a short ascent to the Wirtsberg with superb panoramic views; follow the Vogtlandweg down to the Haarmühle, then climb again to the Bismarckturm; after climbing the tower and a refreshment stop at Gasthof Heiterer Blick, it’s a short walk to the fascinating Musikinstrumenten-Museum Markneukirchen; return by bus to Bad Elster

(approx. 13 km, 390 metres of ascent)

Day 6: walk into Bohemia

Walk along the Weißen Elster into Bohemia, via Grün/Doubrava and Niederreuth/Dolni Paseky to the border town of Asch/As; after a leisurely refreshment stop return by train via Franzensbad to Bad Elster

(approx. 11 km, 330 metres of ascent)

Day 7: walk around Bad Elster

Walk from the hotel to the Landhaus, through the NSG Zeidelweidebachtal uphill to the remains of Schloß Schönfeld, continue to the elevated Waldcafé; after a refreshment stop descend on the Kuhbergweg back to Bad Elster and the hotel

(approx. 11 km, 190 metres of ascent)

Day 8: departure

Departure from Bad Elster station.

Leisurely walking in Saxony’s spa region around Bad Elster, as a comfortable centre-based hotel holiday. From Parkhotel Helene beside Albert-Park you set off on varied day walks on the Vogtland-Panoramaweg, along the Weiße Elster and to destinations such as Bad Brambach, Landwüst, Markneukirchen, Eger/Cheb, Franzensbad and Asch. In the afternoons there’s time for the spa park and the Albertbad. Breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Transfers and public transport make getting around easy; some stages can be shortened. 8 or 5 days.