Oberwiesenthal

Oberwiesenthal is a winter sports resort in the Ore Mountains in Saxony, Germany. With an altitude of 914 m above sea level, Oberwiesenthal is the highest "city" (Stadt) in Germany.

Understand
Oberwiesenthal was founded as a mining community during the era of "Berggeschrey" (sic!) in early modern times. While the mining was mostly over even before World War I, winter tourism brought new wealth to this town within easy reach of several slopes. During communist times, Oberwiesenthal was without doubt the premier winter sports destination of East Germany, and a centre for the training of world-class athletes to win gold for the "peasants and farmers' state". While winter sports never left the place, it was not unaffected by reunification of Germany and with it many formerly regular visitors making the most of their newfound freedom to travel elsewhere. However, Oberwiesenthal has since bounced back and even attracts visitors from the other side of the former Iron Curtain that were few and far between before 1990.

By train
Oberwiesenthal is not served by DB but rather a steam heritage railway (for which you need an extra ticket). The Fichtelbergbahn has departures at least twice daily in either direction even during the off season and takes you from Cranzahl (served by DB) to Oberwiesenthal in roughly one hour.

By bus
The VMS bus line 210 goes daily from Chemnitz to Oberwiesenthal (journey time: 2 hr). Plan your journey using the DB journey planner.

Get around
City bus A, which also goes to the top of Fichtelberg.
 * public transport map

Go next
Germany:
 * Annaberg-Buchholz
 * Schwarzenberg
 * Johanngeorgenstadt
 * Zwickau

Czech Republic:
 * Boží Dar (Gottesgab) – important ski area
 * Jachymov (St. Joachimsthal) – Spa town
 * Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) – Spa town in the West Bohemian Spa Triangle