When you’re a person and you’ve lived to be a good number of years I would say that you’re multi-faceted. You’ve probably learned some life lessons along the way, you’ve reinvented yourself, and there’s more to you than meets the eye.
Penig, a town in the extreme east of Germany (and not a person), is no different.
As with any grand lady, she won’t reveal her secrets all at once — you have to woo them out of her. Peeling away centuries of history and culture isn’t an easy task; but, you got to start somewhere and Penig’s Town Hall is a good start. Come see the Rathaus that’s been here since 1545 and start your journey from there.
From there wander over to the church Unser Lieben Frauen Auf Dem Berge (literally translating to Our Ladies On The Hill), built in 1515. It became a “Reformed” church less than twenty-five years after it was built; and has remained to this day. You might think they’re old but, that honor belongs to St. Ägidius when residents built it back in 1157.
Penig’s Wasserschoss (water caste), known in these parts as the Alte Schloss, was built in the 14th century and underwent major renovations in the 16th. This is the castle you see today.
What else you can see today in Penig is the Naturpark Köbe, a wooded area with sheep, goats, donkeys, and all other sorts of animals. You and the kids can enjoy a wonderful afternoon lunch by the park’s pond after checking out all the park’s creatures.
The town of Penig sits on the Zwickauer Mulde, a river that’s another great place to sit with a bite to eat. Don’t think of calories, you’ve got a few cycling trails leading off through town to work off any & all of ’em!
Penig even has a neighborhood that’s known as America and she once housed a concentration camp during World War II. So, you see, there’s much to learn from this layered Saxonian town — now, you’ll just have to come find some other hidden treasures out of her.
