Borstendorf: Hiking Trails, Chess History and Local Culture

Borstendorf combines signposted hiking trails with an unusual chess history and several notable sites of local culture.

Key facts on the subject

• The Chess Hiking Trail leads through the history of chessboard production with 16 oversized chess pieces and information boards.
• The fully signposted circular trail is approximately 15 km long; shorter variants are possible.
• Wide, well-maintained paths, rest areas and the opportunity to stop at “Oehmes Gaststätte” with its beer garden complement the Chess Hiking Trail.
• The Bambini Hiking Trail is 4.5 km long, runs mainly along paved paths and can be walked or travelled with a pushchair.
• The Bambini Hiking Trail includes a forest labyrinth approximately 1.1 km long and covering an area of about 1,000 m², hands-on stations and a quiz.
• The “View of Borstendorf from the Höhenweg” route starts and ends at Borstendorf Church and offers panoramic views of Borstendorf, the Ore Mountains and Augustusburg.
• The village church is designated as a listed individual monument and was built in 1820; it houses the Göthel organ built by Christian Friedrich Göthel (1804–1873).

Hiking trails for different day plans

The Chess Hiking Trail is suitable for an in-depth exploration of the local production history. At approximately 15 km, you should take the distance into account when planning your day. The possibility of shorter variants allows for a different choice of route without abandoning the trail’s thematic focus. The wide, well-maintained paths and rest areas provide specific places for breaks. There is also an opportunity to stop at “Oehmes Gaststätte” with its beer garden.

For a shorter outing, the 4.5 km-long Bambini Hiking Trail is available. It runs mainly along paved paths and can be walked or travelled with a pushchair. The approximately 1.1 km-long forest labyrinth forms a separate section of the route. Hands-on stations and a quiz add activities to the route, without implying any specific walking time.

Panoramic views and Borstendorf’s local culture

Those who want to combine a route with a clearly defined starting and finishing point can plan the “View of Borstendorf from the Höhenweg” trail. It starts and ends at Borstendorf Church. The route offers panoramic views of Borstendorf, the Ore Mountains and Augustusburg. The church itself is designated as an individual monument of architectural and local historical significance and was built in 1820. The Göthel organ commemorates the organ builder Christian Friedrich Göthel (1804–1873), who built it.

Another point of cultural and historical interest is the open-air Borstendorf Christmas Mountain. The outdoor installation depicts the Christmas story using light and sound. Events are also held at Borstendorf outdoor swimming pool throughout the year, including the “Wanderkino” during the summer season and “Abbaden” as part of the “Living Advent Calendar” during Advent.

Chessboard production as a defining theme

The history of chessboard production is present in Borstendorf not only along the hiking trail. During its heyday, the K. P. Uhlig draughts and chessboard factory produced 7,000 chess sets per month. Borstendorf had five chessboard factories and was a major worldwide centre for the production of draughts and chessboards. The Chess Hiking Trail conveys this history through its oversized pieces and the information boards along the circular route.

The old village road also points to former economic routes. It served as a transport route to Freiberg. Among other things, the large quantities of charcoal produced in Borstendorf were transported along it to the smelting works. This historical connection adds another aspect of local history to the story of chessboard production.

Choose accommodation based on your planned experiences

When looking for accommodation in Borstendorf, you can use your day plan as a decision-making aid: the long Chess Hiking Trail, the shorter Bambini route suitable for pushchairs, the panoramic route from the Höhenweg and the sites of cultural and historical interest each offer different focal points. If you want to combine several destinations, first decide whether the distance, the paved route, the forest labyrinth, the church or the chess history should be the main focus.

For comparison with other places, you can also consider Crottendorf, Kurort Seiffen/Erzgebirge, Bockau, Eibenstock, Lössnitz, Bärenstein, Schönheide and Oberwiesenthal as well.

FAQ

How long is the Chess Hiking Trail in Borstendorf?

The fully signposted circular trail is approximately 15 km long. Shorter variants are possible.

What does the Chess Hiking Trail show?

Along the circular route, there are 16 oversized chess pieces and information boards about the history of chessboard production.

Is a route suitable for pushchairs available?

The 4.5 km-long Bambini Hiking Trail runs mainly along paved paths and can be walked or travelled with a pushchair.

What is included in the forest labyrinth?

The forest labyrinth is approximately 1.1 km long and covers an area of about 1,000 m². The Bambini Hiking Trail also includes hands-on stations and a quiz.

Where does the Höhenweg route start and end?

The “View of Borstendorf from the Höhenweg” route starts and ends at Borstendorf Church. It offers panoramic views of Borstendorf, the Ore Mountains and Augustusburg.

What cultural and historical destinations are there?

These include Borstendorf village church, which is designated as an individual monument and was built in 1820, the Göthel organ and the history of the draughts and chessboard factories.

What events take place at the outdoor swimming pool?

The events mentioned are the “Wanderkino” during the summer season and “Abbaden” as part of the “Living Advent Calendar” during Advent.

To the higher-level travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.