Vogtland Panorama Trail® - Stage 1

Jocketa

The first stage of the Vogtland Panorama Trail® begins directly under the impressively high Göltzschtal bridge. The trail climbs briefly before two paths separate in the direction of Greiz and Reichenbach. On the left, the path leads back to the valley floor and runs along the impact slope of the Göltzsch into the idyllic Friesenbach valley. From there, we hike further down the valley on the narrow "Köhlersteig" (charcoal burner's path) to where the Göltzsch flows into the Weiße Elster. The last section in particular is fascinating with its wild rock scenery above the river.

Alternatively, you can start the Vogtland Panorama Trail® at the railway station in Greiz and add the walk on the Köhlersteig as a "finale furioso" to the 12th stage. The routes meet at the junction of the two rivers. The trail crosses the Göltzsch and then climbs steeply up to the plateau bordering the Weiße Elster to the east. The next destination is the Kriebelstein, an ideal place to rest, high above the town of Elsterberg with its castle ruins worth seeing.

Back down in the valley, the trail now remains faithful to the White Elster until it reaches the Barthmühle. Always staying on the eastern bank, you walk upstream through the beautiful river valley, which is fortunately free of roads. Only now and then does a train pass. This does not detract from the idyll, but rather enhances it - after all, this first stage is marked by two important railway bridges.

After a short detour to the overgrown walls of Liebau Castle, the Elster Valley Bridge is already in sight. Its location high above the narrow, rocky valley makes it even more dramatic than the Göltzschtal bridge, although it is not as tall or as wide. At Barthmühle, the tracks are crossed and the path leads under the bridge into the Triebtal valley to the Pyramidenwiese meadow. We cross a small bridge over the Trieb and climb up to Jocketa station.