Winter Holidays in the Erzgebirge: Cross-Country Skiing, Alpine Skiing & Tobogganing
Cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and tobogganing in the Erzgebirge: enjoy your winter holiday around the Fichtelberg — with the Sonnenhotel Hoher Hahn as your base.
When the hills around Schwarzenberg transform into a glittering blanket of snow, the most beautiful time of the year begins in the Erzgebirge. The „Pearl of the Erzgebirge“, as Schwarzenberg is fondly known, is the ideal starting point for everyone who wants to experience winter in all its variety – whether on slender cross-country skis, on fast downhill slopes or with a sledge on the family hill. Here at the Sonnenhotel Hoher Hahn in Bermsgrün, perched at around 670 metres above sea level, you’ll find exactly the kind of peace and comfort that crowns a perfect winter’s day. Let us show you what makes this region in the snow so special.
Cross-Country Skiing – Mile After Mile Through Snow-Covered Forests
The Erzgebirge is one of Germany’s most tradition-steeped cross-country skiing regions, and for good reason. The Erzgebirgskreis district alone is laced with around 750 kilometres of groomed trails that wind through silent forests, over gentle ridges and past snow-dusted villages. Anyone who loves cross-country skiing will find a network here that leaves almost nothing to be desired.
A true highlight is the Kammloipe, which runs for nearly 36 kilometres from Schöneck in the Vogtland to Johanngeorgenstadt. It is considered one of the most snow-reliable trails in Germany’s low mountain ranges – it runs almost entirely through forest, passes through only two small settlements and is groomed wide enough that skating enthusiasts also get their money’s worth. If you prefer something a little more compact, we recommend the Sportpark Rabenberg near Breitenbrunn: around 50 kilometres of trails with five loop courses and two point-to-point trails await there, classically tracked and with room for skating. Incidentally, from there it’s only around 16 kilometres to the large ski area on the Fichtelberg.
Alpine Skiing – the Largest Ski Area in Eastern Germany
If you’d rather head downhill than across country, the Fichtelberg is your destination. At 1,214.88 metres it is the highest mountain in Saxony and towers above the health resort of Oberwiesenthal, the highest town in Germany. The Fichtelberg ski area near Oberwiesenthal is by far the largest ski area in the Saxon Erzgebirge and at the same time the largest ski area in eastern Germany.
Across a total slope length of 15.7 kilometres, twelve descents are spread out in the difficulty levels easy, intermediate and difficult – from the leisurely family run to the sporting challenge, there’s something for everyone. The altitude ranges from 900 to 1,215 metres, which ensures pleasantly long seasons. And for those who want to clock up even more piste kilometres: combined with the Czech Keilberg (Klínovec), there are around 45 kilometres of ski slopes, about 80 per cent of which can be covered with artificial snow.
A trip up to the Fichtelberg is an experience in its own right. The Fichtelberg-Schwebebahn, which went into operation in December 1924, is the oldest aerial cableway in Germany and carries you to the summit aboard a piece of living transport history.
Tobogganing – Winter Fun for the Whole Family
No winter holiday in the Erzgebirge would be complete without a proper sledge ride. The tobogganing options here range from the fast natural slope to the gentle family hill – for the very youngest just as much as for daring grown-ups. There are toboggan lifts in Johanngeorgenstadt and in the toy-making village of Seiffen, among others, and the toboggan run on the Fichtelberg has even won an award from the ADAC. The Sportpark Rabenberg also tempts visitors with a floodlit toboggan run right outside the door, so nothing stands in the way of the fun even at dusk.
For more ideas for your winter days – from family outings to the most beautiful vantage points – we’ve gathered everything together in our Erzgebirge Guide.
A Region Steeped in History and Culture
The Erzgebirge is far more than just a winter sports region. The cross-border Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 6 July 2019 and comprises 22 components, 17 of them on the Saxon side. Anyone who wants to swap the snow for a day of culture will find centuries-old mining history, artful folk craftsmanship and a living Christmas tradition here. Especially in the winter months, the Erzgebirge unfolds a very special magic with its festive handicrafts.
Arrive, Warm Up, Feel at Home
After a long day in the snow there is hardly anything nicer than returning to the warmth. Here at the Sonnenhotel Hoher Hahn an indoor pool awaits to thaw tired muscles, along with a Finnish sauna and a quiet area in which you can truly relax. In the restaurant we spoil you with half board and culinary themed evenings, and you can enjoy breakfast in the light-flooded conservatory.
Our youngest guests are catered for too: with a children’s playroom, an outdoor playground and a kids’ club, the winter holiday becomes a pleasure for the whole family. If you arrive by e-bike, you’ll find a lockable garage with a charging station here – and for active days away from the trails, a tennis court and mini golf are ready and waiting. Hiking and cycling paths begin right at the hotel, and the ski lift lies just a few steps away on the edge of the village.
Our peaceful hilltop setting around three and a half kilometres south of Schwarzenberg’s town centre makes us the ideal base for your winter adventures: close enough to the region’s most beautiful slopes and trails, yet far enough from the bustle to enjoy the snow-covered hills of the Erzgebirge in perfect quiet in the evening. We look forward to welcoming you.