I was debating with my self when it came to the town of Treuen in Saxony. I stared at my computer screen thinking about all the sites there are to see and all the outdoor activities; and yet the words to tell you about it eluded me.
I really don’t know how that happened. Treuen is really a remarkable town with a long history and sits within the wonderful Vogtland. And I’m really glad I eventually got clear to tell you about it.
Treuen has a fantastic castle, a Romanesque church, a nature park, and an adventure park for the kids. See? If you don’t like this kind of stuff, you’ve got to have come from another planet. ;-)
Let’s start at the castle. The Treuener Schloss is in a late Renaissance period design with two floors and a timber-framed front. If you don’t care about its architecture, then maybe you’ll like all the concerts and festivals that go on here.
After leaving the castle, it’s onwards to St. Bartholomäi. It’s an Evangelical Lutheran church now, but not when it was originally built back in the 12th century.
A couple of other historical buildings that you must see is the town’s Rathaus (a.k.a. Town Hall) that was built in the mid-19th century. At least you can see the inside of the Rathaus, because the Herrenhaus des Rittergutes is privately owned, so you only get an outside view of this house that was built in 1800.
After seeing all this, you deserve a break. So, how about climbing the Perlaser Aussichsturm? It’s an observation tower (built 1870) that overlooks the Vogtland. It’s especially pretty out here, so the eagle-eye view is another way to enjoy it.
To stay closer to the ground, there’s a nature park around Treuen with all sorts of local flora & fauna. Look around, you’ll find two ponds that are perfect to sit by for an afternoon lunch.
The kids might prefer forest adventure with three Lehrpfade (“Teaching Trails”), two of which are called Mahnbrück and Am Kreuzstein. Here they can have a few hours of learning about wildlife, trees, and plants in a totally fun environment.
Just don’t tell them that they might actually LEARN something here. Some kids already think parents are from another planet. ;-)
