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Elsterperlenweg® / Elster Pearl Trail

· 1 review · Quality trail · Vogtland · Open
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Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • Oberes Schloss Greiz
    Oberes Schloss Greiz
    Photo: Archiv TVV, S. Theilig
Go on a 72 km journey of discovery along the Elsterperlenweg® and explore the Elster Valley on one of the most beautiful circular hiking trails in the Thuringian Vogtland.
Open
moderate
Distance 68.7 km
20:40 h
1,826 m
1,826 m
421 m
208 m
The circular hiking trail leads on both sides along the river "White Elster" from the royal seat of Greiz, the pearl of the Vogtland, via Neumühle to Wünschendorf, the gateway to the Elstertal, and back via Berga / Elster to Greiz. On the way through the wild and romantic valley of the White Elster, the hiker passes dreamy villages, places steeped in history and unique buildings. Attractive panoramic views reveal an interesting low mountain range.

A special feature of the path are its cross connections. In Neumühle, for example, you can walk to the opposite side of the White Elster after stage 1 and hike back to Greiz on stage 6. These possibilities allow the stages to be combined individually and as required.

Hiking on the path Elsterperlenweg® offers not only a lot of nature but also the opportunity to visit historical sights. At the northern turning point, hikers will find the 1000-year-old St. Vitus Church, the Mildenfurth monastery or the 225-year-old covered wooden bridge in Wünschendorf.

But also en route, in the middle of the wooded Elstertal, there is a lot to discover, such as the mill Clodramühle, which is still in operation, the town of Berga / Elster or the imposing river weir "Elsterwehr" in Neumühle. And further on at the southern turning point of the Elsterperlenweg®, in the more than 800-year-old residential town of Greiz, the hiking trail leads directly through the internationally known Greizer Park to the Upper Castle (with museum) and the Lower Castle with museum and the Church of St. Marien in the beautiful center of the city of Greiz.

Let yourself be inspired by the fascinating nature and follow in the footsteps of the reeves (Vögte).

Author’s recommendation

  • Park in Greiz
  • Sommerpalais (Summer Palace) Greiz
  • Upper and Lower Castle in Greiz
  • Osterburg Castle  in Weida
  • Wooden bridge in Wünschendorf
Quality route according to "Wanderbares Deutschland"
Difficulty
moderate
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
421 m
Lowest point
208 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Bauernmuseum & Museumscafé Nitschareuth
Zickra Cultural Centre
Kulturhof Zickra
Milchschafhof Unterhammer
Clodramühle
Camping & Restaurant »Am Töpferberg«
Gasthaus Zum Klosterhof
Landhotel am Fuchsbach
Museums- und Ferienhof Waltersdorf
Greizer Parkgaststätte
Krug zum grünen Kranz
Schlossberghotel Greiz
Restaurant "Stadtmühle"
"Tivoli"
"pm lounge"

Safety information

Pay attention to your physical condition and take appropriate quantities of drinks with you on the hike.

The Elsterperlenweg (Elster Pearl Trail) runs along paths, narrow mostly natural paths and has stepped sections uphill and downhill. If you are travelling with small children, it is recommended that you use a child's crutch, as the trail is difficult to negotiate with prams or buggies, or even for people with walking difficulties. One exception is part of the 1st stage. The paths through the Fürstlich Greizer Park are easy to walk and ride on and are therefore suitable for walks with a pram or also for people with walking difficulties.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Tips and hints

Tourismusverband Vogtland e.V.

Tel .: +49 3744 188860

Mail: info@vogtland-tourismus.de

 

Tourist-Information Greiz

Tel .: +49 3661 689815

Mail: tourismus@greiz.de

 

www.elsterperlenweg.de 

Start

Greiz (255 m)
Coordinates:
DD
50.656905, 12.195532
DMS
50°39'24.9"N 12°11'43.9"E
UTM
33U 301779 5615425
w3w 
///split.shaver.clots

Destination

Greiz

Turn-by-turn directions

The hike starts in the Park  of Greiz and runs along the summer palace to the bridge over the river. Then it goes on on the west side of the Elster to Wünschendorf. You pass the places Nitzschareuth, Lehnamühle, the entrance to Berga / Elster, Clodramühle, Cronschwitz, Mildenfurth, Veitsberg and then Wünschendorf.

The way back goes along the White Elster on the east side. Here you start in Wünschendorf and pass the Fuchsmühle, Teufelskanzel, Großdraxdorf, Bastei, Albersdorf, localities of Berga / Elster, Markersdorf, Untergeißendorf, Mühlberg, Neumühle / Elster and come back to Greiz past the Binsenteich. It goes below the Upper Castle back through the city center to the park.

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

You can reach Wünschendorf and Greiz via the Gera-Plauen railway line with the Vogtlandbahn. For timetable information, please contact the Vogtlandbahn/Länderbahn customer centre on 089 54 888 97 -25. Alternatively, you can take the Deutsche Bahn regional express from Erfurt and Gera. Timetable information is available at http://www.vogtlandbahn.de or www.bahn.de.

Further information is available from the PRG bus company on +49 3661/706565 or the Vogtland Tourism and Transport Centre on +49 3744/19449 or www.vogtlandauskunft.de.

By road

You can reach Greiz from the motorway A72 (Hof-Chemnitz) via the Reichenbach exit. Then use Reichenbach and Greiz via the federal street B 94 and the public parking spaces in Greiz on both sides of the river Elster.

Parking

For example, use the public parking spaces in Greiz directly on the shore of the Elster river.

Coordinates

DD
50.656905, 12.195532
DMS
50°39'24.9"N 12°11'43.9"E
UTM
33U 301779 5615425
w3w 
///split.shaver.clots
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendation by the author

Further information can be found on the website of the Vogtland Tourist Association at www.vogtland-tourismus.de or at +49 3744 18886-0 as well as in the other tourist information along the tour route.

Author’s map recommendations

You can find information on other paths and activities on the active pages of the Vogtland Tourist Association at www.vogtland-tourismus.de 

Equipment

Appropriate hiking equipment should be used for the almost 70 kilometers long path.

Related Offers

from €512.00

6 Days
Available until December 31, 2023

4 Etappen Tour durch das wildromantische Tal der Weißen Elster.Strecke (Rundwanderung): Greiz - Berga/Elster (ca. 21 km) - Wünschendorf (ca. 13 km) - ...

Provider:  Buchungsservice Vogtland | Source:  Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur

Questions and answers

Question from Petra Hartlich · February 08, 2022 · Community
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Answered by Jasmin Bärthel · February 08, 2022 · Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Question from Petra Hartlich · February 08, 2022 · Community
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Answered by Jasmin Bärthel · February 08, 2022 · Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur

Rating

4.0
(1)
Martin H. 
March 16, 2022 · Community
Show more
When did you do this route? March 30, 2021

Photos from others


Status
Open
Reviews
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
68.7 km
Duration
20:40 h
Ascent
1,826 m
Descent
1,826 m
Highest point
421 m
Lowest point
208 m
Public-transport-friendly Circular route Refreshment stops available Multi-stage route Scenic Geological highlights Flora Cultural/historical interest Fauna

Statistics

  • Content
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Features
2D 3D
Maps and trails
  • 6 Stages
Quality trail · Vogtland
Elster Pearls Trail - Stage 1
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 1 Open
Distance 10 km
Duration 3:10 h
Ascent 272 m
Descent 291 m

The 10.08 km long stage begins in the beautiful Fürstlich Greizer Park.  The stage takes 3-4 hours to reach Neumühle/Elster.

1
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Quality trail · Vogtland
Elster Pearls Trail – Stage 2
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 2
Distance 10.5 km
Duration 3:20 h
Ascent 302 m
Descent 328 m

The 10.9 km long stage leads from Neumühle/Elster to Berga/Elster.

2
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Quality trail · Vogtland
Elster Pearls Trail – Stage 3
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 3 Open
Distance 13.1 km
Duration 4:12 h
Ascent 216 m
Descent 225 m

The 13.33 km long stage begins in Berga and leads to Wünschendorf.

1
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Quality trail · Vogtland
Elster Pearls Trail – Stage 4
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 4 Open
Distance 16.2 km
Duration 5:20 h
Ascent 524 m
Descent 494 m

Stage 4 takes you 17.2 km from the town hall in Wünschendorf to Berga / Elster. You will have spectacular views like the "Weiberstein" peak to the ...

2
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Quality trail · Vogtland
Elster Pearls Trail – Stage 5
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 5 Open
Distance 9.9 km
Duration 3:29 h
Ascent 319 m
Descent 313 m

From Berga / Elster it goes back via 10.5 km to Neumühle.

1
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Quality trail · Vogtland
Elster Pearls Trail – Stage 6
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 6 Open
Distance 10 km
Duration 2:59 h
Ascent 335 m
Descent 324 m

The last stage of 9.93 km along the White Elster leads back to Greiz in the Fürstlich Greizer Park.

1
Vogtland - Sinfonie der Natur
Distance  km
Duration : h
Ascent  m
Descent  m
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Lowest point  m
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