What to do in Annaberg-Buchholz? Tips and sights

Annaberg-Buchholz is compact, and you won't find a long list of highlights here. Its appeal lies in the combination of traditions, mining, and local culture. Take the time to stroll through the center, step into some shops and museums, and be sure to visit the mine.

One of the museums you shouldn't miss is the Manufactory of dreams. The museum is located directly on the market square and is housed in a stately mansion that has been converted into a museum. Inside, you will find a large collection of art objects and wooden toys originating from the Ore Mountains.

The collection was curated by Erika Pohl-Ströher, known for Wella hair care products. Her family came from this region and had a great interest in the traditions, including the art of woodcarving. Here you can see a large collection of Nussknacker, Räuchermänner, and Schwibbogen, among others. It is not only a museum, but also a kind of journey through time in the folk art of the Ore Mountains.

For me personally, that makes it extra interesting. I grew up with these traditions myself and recognize much of what you see here. As a result, you look at it differently than when you walk through it without any background. If you want to learn more about the traditions, you can book a guided tour. Thanks to my guide, I received more information about certain objects. Some pieces are really old and have a story that you wouldn't easily discover on your own. Without that explanation, you mainly see beautiful objects; with explanation, you appreciate them more.

If you want to learn more about the history and traditions of Annaberg-Buchholz and the Ore Mountains, pay a visit to the Erzgebirgsmuseum. Here you will discover various aspects of history, from mining and crafts to art and folk culture. Think of woodcarving, pewter working, and ceramics, but also unique pieces such as an old Christmas pyramid and religious art from the time of the Reformation.

In the museum, you essentially walk through the entire history of the region. From work in the mines to daily life in Annaberg-Buchholz. There are a number of pieces that are really worth seeing. For example, I found the model of the Annaberger Kät very beautiful to look at. You can press buttons to set the model in motion, which makes it just a bit more interactive. In the vaulted cellar, you will find a collection of rocks found in the mines. It is a place where you learn more about how the region has grown.

From the museum, you can go directly to the Silberberg mine 'Im Gößner', that lies beneath the city and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The entrance is located in the museum's courtyard. Here, you enter the mine with a guide, down to about 20 meters underground.

You walk through corridors and past old shafts that are more than 500 years old. It is remarkable that the corridors were only rediscovered in 1992 and have been accessible to visitors since 1995. That makes walking around here even more interesting.

The corridors are narrow, low, and sometimes quite cramped. In some sections, you really have to duck. Only then do you realize what the work here must have been like in the past. The tour is in German, but even if you don't understand everything, it is still worthwhile.

If you wish to visit the mine, it is advisable to book in advance. From Tuesday to Friday there are two tours per day, and four on weekends and public holidays.

De St. Annenkirche It is impossible to miss. As soon as you walk into the center, this church immediately stands out. It is a large and impressive building that literally towers over the city. With a tower 78 meters high, it is one of the most famous landmarks of Annaberg-Buchholz.

The church dates from the end of the 15th century and was built as a late Gothic hall church. Inside, you can view the interior or climb the tower, among other things, from where you have a view of the city and the surrounding area. During the Christmas season, concerts and musical performances are also organized here, which makes it extra special.

An entrance fee is charged for a visit to the church. If you wish to take photos inside, an additional surcharge applies.

De Mountain Church of St. Mary is considerably smaller than the St. Annenkirche. This little church is located on a side street off the market square and is certainly worth stepping inside.

The church was built in 1511 and has survived several fires over the years. After a major restoration, the building has been restored to its former state. Inside, you can see, among other things, a remarkable group of sculptures depicting the Christmas story. The nearly life-sized figures were made by local woodcarvers and paid for by residents of the city.

It is not a large church, but it is a place where you can take a quiet look around and see something different from St. Annenkirche. The church is open daily from 11:00 to 17:00 and admission is free.

The program Adam Ries Museum It revolves around Adam Ries, a master arithmetic teacher who lived here in the 16th century. He made arithmetic accessible to a wider audience, something that was not commonplace at the time.

I did not visit this museum myself because it was closed during my visit to Annaberg-Buchholz. Nevertheless, it is a place that is often mentioned and showcases another piece of the city's history. If the museum is open when you are there, it is certainly worth taking a look inside.

In the past, the center of Annaberg-Buchholz was surrounded by a city ​​wall of 2,5 kilometers. The city wall had 19 defensive towers and bastions, a moat, five gates and portals, all intended to protect the city against attacks from the outside.

The city grew rapidly in the 15th and 16th centuries due to mining and consequently gained increasing importance. With that growth also increased the need to protect the city and its wealth, which eventually led to the construction of the city wall.

A quarter of the city wall has been preserved, and parts of it have been renovated. You will naturally come across what remains if you walk a short distance outside the city center.

If you walk through the Große Kirchgasse, you will naturally pass various shops with Erzgebirge wood art. It is really all about products from the region here.

You see incense burners, nutcrackers, and other wooden decorations everywhere. They are certainly ubiquitous during the Christmas season, but these shops are simply there outside of that as well. Pop into a few; the selection varies by shop, and that makes it fun.

One of the most beautiful shops you simply must pop into is Der Schwibbogen, right next to St. Annenkirche. They have a large collection of Christmas pyramids and incense burners here. It is ideal if you are looking for something beautiful to take home and want to be certain that you are buying something original and not a cheap fake.

Do you want to know more about the difference between original and fake, and what to look out for? Then I refer you to my article about Seiffen.

De Frohnauer Hammer It is located just outside the center of Annaberg-Buchholz and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ore Mountains. This is an old hammer mill where ores were formerly processed and tools for mining were made.

During a guided tour, you see how this place worked. What makes it special is that the original technology is still in use. As soon as the hammers are set in motion, you immediately notice how powerful that system was. It produces a truly tremendous noise, which immediately makes the visit much more impressive.

The history of this place dates back to the 15th century, when it started as a mill and was later converted into a hammer mill. Eventually, it grew into an important site for metal processing in the region. Today, it is one of the best-preserved examples of this type of technology in Saxony.

A visit to the Markus-Röhling-Stolln I found this to be one of the nicest things to do in Annaberg-Buchholz. This is an old silver mine where silver and other ores, among other things, used to be mined. Nowadays, it is a visitor mine, and you can take a look underground yourself.

You take a small train about 600 meters into the mine, and that immediately makes it different from a standard tour. Before you go inside, you put on a protective suit and a helmet. Then the cry of “Glück Auf!” rings out, and you actually enter the mine.

The guide spoke German in a local dialect and did it in a very witty way. Although my German is very good, I didn't understand nearly everything, but that doesn't detract from the fact that this guide did a really great job.

Once inside the mine, you walk through the tunnels and hear stories about the work and life underground. You see how people used to work and how much effort it took to extract the minerals from the rock. Not only silver was mined in this mine, but later also cobalt and uranium.

In Annaberg-Buchholz, it is not about trendy restaurants, but about simple, good places where you can eat delicious Hausmannskost.

For breakfast, I sat at Café Timeless and the Ratskeller Café. My personal preference clearly goes to Café Zeitlos. It feels more like a place where you can really sit down quietly for breakfast or coffee with a treat. The Ratskellercafé is more of a bakery where you can also sit down.

At Café Zeitlos, I ordered an extensive breakfast with rolls, various toppings, scrambled eggs, some fruit, coffee, and a glass of bubbly. Everything was neatly presented and simply good. That is enough for me to go there again.

For a traditional dinner, you can go to Ratskeller “Zum Neinerlaa”. Here they serve the famous Neinerlaa, A dish consisting of nine small components, such as sausage, sauerkraut, meat, and dumplings. It is traditionally eaten during the Christmas period, and each component has its own meaning for the new year. This is a dish typical of the Ore Mountains.

De Annaberg-Buchholz Christmas market was the reason for me to go here. I found the Christmas market so atmospheric that I went a second time a few years later. And I think that says enough.

The Christmas market is located on the Marktplatz and is not large, but that is precisely what makes it so atmospheric and cozy. It is not just about food and drink here. In the stalls, you see many products from the region, such as wood art, Christmas decorations, and incense candles. This gives the market a very different feel compared to, for example, cities closer to the border, where it often feels much more commercial.

When it comes to food, there is plenty to choose from. Naturally, you will find bratwurst and mulled wine, but also regional dishes such as Tote Oma, goose sandwich, Soljanka, Stollen, and Quarkkrapfen. Also, be sure to try the mulled wine with Vogelbeere; I highly recommend it, as well as the Heiss & Weiss from Schloss Wackerbarth.

The atmosphere is convivial. People strike up a conversation easily, there is music, and there are live performances. The highlight of the Christmas market is the Grosse Bergparade on the fourth Sunday of Advent. A tradition for which the Ore Mountains are known and which you really must see at least once.

I have stayed overnight in Annaberg-Buchholz twice. The first time I slept at The Royal Inn Wilder Mann, Right on the market square. The location is ideal, especially during the Christmas period. You walk straight onto the square. The hotel itself is more than fine. What stuck with me most was the atmosphere upon arrival. A candle was burning at the reception, and that immediately set the right Christmas mood.

The second time, I stayed in an Airbnb just outside the center, about a ten-minute walk from the Marktplatz. Quiet street, easy parking, and a great place to sleep. I use accommodation mainly for the night, so that was more than enough for me.

Annaberg-Buchholz was created by mining, and you can still feel that today. Not so much because you see it immediately everywhere, but primarily through the places you can visit, such as the mines and museums. There, you discover just how important mining has been here.

In the city center, you can primarily see that the city was once prosperous. The houses are large and well-maintained, showing that a lot of money was earned here in the past. The Ore Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their mining history. Do not expect crowds, but do expect many places that show how important this region used to be.

The region is known for crafts such as woodcarving and knocking. The latter is lace-making, and it is still done here. It is a tradition that is passed down and of which they are proud.

Another well-known event is the Annaberger Kät, a large folk festival that takes place annually and attracts many people from the region.

The Ore Mountains are a region you really need to set aside a few days for. Drive from village to village and let yourself be surprised by what you encounter along the way.

Annaberg-Buchholz is situated in the heart of the Ore Mountains, making it a good base for further exploring the region. One of the most famous places is Soaps, where everything revolves around wood art and Christmas. The center consists of shops and workshops where you can see how the famous Räuchermänner and other decorations are made.

In Crottendorf You can make a Räucherkerze yourself. That is fun to do once and immediately gives you a better idea of ​​the craft behind this tradition. Villages such as Schneeberg, Marienberg, and Olbernhau are also worth visiting.

If you want to go into nature, head towards the Fichtelberg, the highest mountain in Saxony. Here you can hike and enjoy beautiful views of the region. If you want to take a longer hike, I recommend the Kammweg .

A little further away lies Freiberg, one of the larger cities in the Ore Mountains, and also worth a visit if you want to see more of the mining history.

Disclaimer: My visits to Annaberg-Buchholz were partly arranged in collaboration with Saxony Tourism en Erzgebirge Adventure HomeEverything you read is my personal opinion/experience.