Morgenröthe with Space Travel, Technology History and Circular Trails

Morgenröthe combines space travel, technology history and circular trails close to nature. The German Space Travel Exhibition presents more than 1,000 exhibits on space travel across two levels. In addition, several trails lead through forest landscapes to various destinations, including Vogtlandsee, Grünheide Forest Park, Cottafelsen and a fallow deer enclosure. The town therefore offers specific points of interest for stays that combine exhibitions and walks.

Space Travel and Outdoor Facilities

The German Space Travel Exhibition is the clearest focal point for visitors interested in space travel and technological developments. The exhibition includes a planet park and a children's playground in the outdoor area. These two features extend the visit beyond the indoor spaces: while the exhibition displays more than 1,000 exhibits across two levels, the planet park and playground are located outdoors at the German Space Travel Exhibition.

The accessibility of the exhibition is also clearly described for planning a day trip. The German Space Travel Exhibition is accessible at ground level, and the upper exhibition level can be reached by lift. One restriction concerns the basic module of the MIR: due to its construction, it is not accessible without barriers. Visitors planning their visit around different needs can take this distinction between the generally accessible exhibition levels and the basic module into account.

Technology History Around the Blast Furnace and Bell Foundry

In addition to space travel, technology history is one of the defining themes in Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz. The FLM Ironworks and Bell Foundry Morgenröthe has been preserved as an open-air museum of importance to technology history and regional history. The site therefore represents a different form of industrial history from the German Space Travel Exhibition: here, the focus is on iron processing, bell casting and regional development.

Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz is associated with a tradition of casting iron bells. More than 9,000 church bells were made there. The historic blast furnace can also be visited. The restored blast furnace in Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz is one of the few surviving examples of pig iron smelting in the Vogtland and Ore Mountains in the 17th and 18th centuries. Together with the open-air museum, it forms an independent historical focus that differs clearly in content from the space exhibition.

Circular Trails Through Forests and Landscapes

A circular trail measuring 11.5 kilometres is available for walks and longer hikes. It starts at the German Space Travel Exhibition in Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz and leads through the forest to Vogtlandsee and Grünheide Forest Park. Along the way, there are opportunities for swimming, a large playground, a forestry educational trail and places to stop for refreshments.

Another distinctive landscape feature is the “Drei Bächel” natural forest reserve. The forest-area circular trail passes through this area, which contains a 230-year-old stand of spruce trees. Consequently, experiencing the trail depends not only on its route but also on the distinctive tree population within the natural forest reserve. The circular trail presents the forest landscape as an independent destination alongside the museums and exhibitions.

The Rautenkranz circular hiking trail has a different focus. It passes Cottafelsen and, after crossing a bridge over the B 283, reaches the fallow deer enclosure. This sequence of rock formation, bridge crossing and animal enclosure distinguishes the trail from the route that starts at the German Space Travel Exhibition and leads to Vogtlandsee and Grünheide Forest Park. Those wishing to compare several trails will therefore find different specific destinations and route characteristics.

Choose Accommodation According to Your Own Interests

When looking for accommodation in Morgenröthe, you can use the planned focus of your stay as a guide. The German Space Travel Exhibition with its planet park and children's playground appeals to different interests than the historic blast furnace, the open-air museum or the forest-area circular trails. For longer days outdoors, several documented destinations are available, including the 11.5-kilometre circular trail, the “Drei Bächel” natural forest reserve and the Rautenkranz circular hiking trail. This allows you to base your accommodation decision on your preferred cultural, technological or landscape themes without equating these attractions with one another.

Even when visiting the German Space Travel Exhibition, careful planning is worthwhile: the exhibition extends across two levels, the upper level can be reached by lift, while the basic module of the MIR is not accessible without barriers due to its construction. When staying with children, you can also take the children's playground in the exhibition's outdoor area and the large playground on the 11.5-kilometre circular trail into consideration.

For comparison with other destinations, see Eichigt, Tannenbergsthal, Rebersreuth, Falkenstein/Vogtland, Rodewisch, Bergen, Grünheide and Bad Brambach.

For the overarching travel overview: Vogtland.