Lugau: Culture, Mining History and Trails

Lugau combines impressive reminders of its mining history with cultural sites and trails that appeal to a range of travel plans. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Lugau can choose between historical discoveries, extensive hiking routes and a summer day-trip destination. Particularly interesting is the contrast between the traces of former hard-coal mining and today's opportunities for culture, walks and cycling tours.

Culture and History in Lugau

An important cultural focal point is the “Villa Facius” cultural centre. It houses the town library, the gallery and town museum, the Kulturhof cultural courtyard and a multipurpose room. The building thus brings together a range of cultural topics and provides a good starting point for anyone who wants to discover Lugau not only through its trails, but also through its history and local cultural life.

The church, which has been known as the “Kreuzkirche” since 1954, is part of the town's historical identity. It was built in three construction phases and extended in 1842/43, 1883 and 1906. Its features include an organ made by the Ladegast company of Weißenfels. The “Old Bell Tower” also reaches far back into the past: its two bells are 500 and 700 years old, respectively.

The churchyard is also the final resting place of 101 victims of the mining disaster at the “Neue Fundgrube” mine on 1 July 1867. This memorial site complements the architectural reminders with a direct connection to the region's mining history. Other attractions include the Mining Museum on Pflockenstraße and the mining educational trail, which allow visitors to experience the subject in Lugau from different perspectives. Lugau is also part of the PURPLE PATH sculpture exhibition.

Hiking, Cycling and Trails through the Mining Region

The Steinkohlenweg trail is available for a longer hike. This 18 km circular hiking trail leads through the former Lugau-Oelsnitz hard-coal mining region. The route length is important when planning your day if you want to schedule a longer circuit while combining the region's history with an active outing.

The Kohlenbahnradweg cycle path offers a different perspective on the former industrial landscape. It was created along the former railway infrastructure of the hard-coal mining industry in the Lugau-Oelsnitz region. It currently extends from Lugau town centre for more than 8 km to the Mittelbach industrial estate. In addition, a 6 km-long, 2.50 m-wide asphalt section can be used by cyclists, walkers and inline skaters. Depending on your travel plans, you can therefore schedule a hike, a cycling tour or a relaxed exercise session along the route.

Summer Day-Trip Destination

In summer, the Stadtbad outdoor pool at Steegenwald is a leisure facility in Lugau with a large slide. In addition to culture, mining history and trails, this adds a seasonal destination for a varied stay. Especially when travelling with several generations, different ideas for the day may play a role in choosing accommodation: while some may prefer historical sites or longer trails, others may want a more easily planned visit to the outdoor pool.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Stay?

When looking for accommodation in Lugau, it is worth deciding on the focus of your trip at an early stage. For those interested in culture, Villa Facius, the Kreuzkirche, the bell tower, the Mining Museum and the mining educational trail are the main attractions. Anyone who mainly wants to stay active can include the 18 km Steinkohlenweg or the Kohlenbahnradweg cycle path in their daily plans. A holiday apartment or holiday home in Lugau can serve as your own base for personal excursions, without limiting the trip to just one activity.

More local pages:Bärenstein, Grünhain-Beierfeld, Neukirchen/Erzgebirge, Marienberg, Burkhardtsdorf, Schlettau, Tannenberg and Ehrenfriedersdorf.

For the higher-level travel overview: Erzgebirgskreis.