Cold weather lovers of Germany rejoice, because do I have the ultimate bestest (yes, I’m aware that’s not a word) ski resort town for you. Welcome to Oberwiesenthal, a town of just over 2,200 people high up in the Ore Mountains. And when I say high, I really mean it, because this Saxony town sits at 914 m (2,999 feet) above sea level — literally the highest town in all of Germany.
This slice of winter heaven is great if you love the outdoors, no matter the season. Because of its elevation, you’ll find a myriad of winter sports — everything from downhill and cross-country skiing, to snowboarding, to tobogganing, and even rides on a horse-drawn sleigh.
Don’t let all this winter fun stop you from coming to Oberwiesenthal during the warmer months. In fact, many of its hiking trails are best done from May to October; routes like the Sylke-Otto-Tour, a 21km hike that’ll take you over six hours to do, and the Konrad-Winkler-Tour that’s not quite as difficult at just over 10km — and done in less than four hours.
Whether you take the longer routes, or shorter ones, the fantastic air will do you wonders. And if you like castles, Oberwiesenthal certainly has enough of those to keep you quite busy in itself. I’ve seen Schlettau Castle in the height of summer, as well as the middle of winter, and I really think this grand dame castle is at its most beautiful at night after a freshly fallen snow.
I love castles as much as the next person, but there’s too much else to see and do. You got to make sure you leave time to try Nordic Walking, visit the spa and Kneipp area, take an old stagecoach ride, visit the Ski & Local History Museum, and take a ride on the Fichtelbergbahn (Railway) and Cable Car. Heck, just shopping for locally made lace, wood art, and baskets can keep even the most die-hard shopper busy for quite some time.
Sounds just divine, doesn’t it? No wonder Oberwiesenthal is so high up — it’s as close to Heaven as you can get. ;-)
