Mountain biking in the Ore Mountains
The nickname of the Ore Mountains, "Saxon Siberia", allows some conclusions to be drawn about the climate, at least in winter. In some regions, mountain pines can be found as low as 900 metres above sea level (in the Alps only from 1,800 metres). However, when the snow is eaten away by the sun, a huge network of paths appears. With a length of 150 kilometres and a width of around 40 kilometres, the Ore Mountains are almost as large as the Black Forest. The border between Saxony and Bohemia runs exactly along its ridge. It also separates the highest peaks, the Fichtelberg (1,215 m) and Klinovec (1,244 m), which are only a few kilometres apart. But it's not just since the Czech Republic became part of the EU that the trails on both sides of the border have formed a coherent, top-class biking area.
Mountain biking in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
If you follow the last foothills of the Erzgebirge towards the east, the Elbe breaks through the rock. Over millions of years, its waters have modelled a unique rocky landscape into the sandstone. Amidst the towers and pinnacles, you suddenly feel like you are in an American canyon. Looking is allowed, but biking is only permitted on four marked routes in the Saxon Switzerland National Park. But the trails in this area are often too bumpy to ride anyway.
Mountain biking in the Zittau Mountains
The Zittau Mountains are located in the easternmost corner of Germany, in the border triangle of the Czech Republic and Poland. With an area of 48 square kilometres, it is officially Germany's smallest low mountain range, but its trails are all the more tempting for bikers. This is because the forests around the 793 metre high Lausche are criss-crossed by old smugglers' trails across into Bohemia. As if that wasn't enough, the hills, which seem so harmless from a distance, hide magnificent sandstone rock labyrinths. A bike tour across the border can be crowned with culinary delights from Bohemian cuisine. The old trading town of Zittau with its listed city centre is a great starting point.
"Carpooling" opportunities for mountain bikers
Ore Mountains:
Cycler Point, Tel. 037348/8305, www.cycler-point.de (Oberwiesenthal)
Erhard Frenzel, Tel. 037367/2277, www.forsthaus-frenzel.de
Pulsschlag Bike & Sport, Tel. 037360/20466, www.puls-schlag.de
Saxon Switzerland:
Rock Trail, Tel. 035971/80300, www.rock-trail.de
Transost tour:
5 stage trips in the German-Czech border region with Trans Ost, Tel. 035971/89316, www.transost.de.
Still on the signposts:
www.dresden-radtouren.de (2 tours with GPS data, more to follow)
www.mountainbike-sachsen.de (Tours around Dresden, Saxon Switzerland, Ore Mountains)
www.sachsenleben.homepage.t-online.de (11 tours in the Ore Mountains)
THE BEST SIGNPOSTS
Ore Mountains
Only around 100 kilometres of single trails, forest and woodland paths are signposted in the Ore Mountains. Starting point: Lengefeld in the central Ore Mountains. Further tours with road book for download: www.miriquidi-bike-trails.de. In Seiffen, the Erzgebirge Bike Marathon has been signposted (50 km). Also: A biker cross course in Zschopau and a DH course in Augustusburg near Chemnitz. Literature: Tours near Seiffen and Lengefeld, BIKE 7/02.
Saxon Switzerland
Saxon Switzerland National Park: 4 routes with a total length of 50 km signposted. (Bad Schandau). Info www.nationalpark-saechsische-schweiz.de
Zittau Mountains
3 trail tours, BIKE 10/03 as download at www.bike-magazin.de
The 5 best MTB tours in Saxony
Around the Lausche (Zittauer Gebirge/Zittau)
On smugglers' trails over the highest mountain in the Zittau Mountains (44 km, 1,011 metres in altitude). Trails and panorama on the Bohemian border ridge. Roadbook in BIKE 10/03 as download at www.bike-magazin.de
Kammweg (Erzgebirge/Zittau - Wernigerrode)
Multi-day tour that follows the German-Czech border over the highest peaks of the Erzgebirge. Marked from Zittau to Wernigerrode (197 km) www.echt-erzgebirge.de.
Panorama Tour (Erzgebirge/Lengefeld)
A classic in the Ore Mountains (40 km, 900 m elevation gain). The locals' favourite tour in the Ore Mountains. Roadbook in BIKE 07/02.
Stülpner Trail (Erzgebirge/Lengefeld)
A must for trail fans! Follow an old track along the Zschopau valley, then up to the Teufelstein (40.5 km/1,000 metres altitude). Info: www.miriquidi-bike-trails.de.
Saxon Switzerland (Elbe Sandstone Mountains/Bad Schandau)
On tarmac and gravel roads through the "Canyonlands" of the East (45 km). Info www.mountainbike-sachsen.de
Downloads:
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
