Top 20 Huts and Cabins around Raschau-Markersbach

In 1903, a mountain hut belonging to the Erzgebirge Association on the summit of Bärenstein formed the nucleus of today's guesthouse and hotel with an observation tower. Ten years later, the hut was expanded into a lodging house. After reunification, the mountain house, now run again as a family business, was reconstructed and reopened in 1992, and renovated again in 2021. The mountain hotel, located at an altitude of 898 meters, offers 22 rustic rooms and, as a special attraction, a 27-meter-high observation tower. On September 11, 1944, the tower was damaged during the air battle over the Ore Mountains ("Black Monday"). Bullet holes can still be seen in the spiral staircase.

The large peace bell on the Fichtelberg had to remain silent for six months in 2024. Stone throwing in May 2022 had so badly damaged the bell that its sound suffered. It was decided to stop ringing it and replace it with a new one. The old bell rang for the last time on Easter Monday 2024. Just in time for the mountain service on German Unity Day on October 3, the new bell was officially rung for the first time in the fall of 2024. The idea of using a peace bell to commemorate the peaceful revolution of 1989 in the GDR and German reunification in 1990 came from watchman Gerd Schlesinger and night watchman Jörg Eller from the Ore Mountains town of Schwarzenberg. The bell was also intended to be heard in neighboring Czechia and thus ring for a united Europe. The cast steel bell, already ninety years old at the time, was rung for the first time in 2010. The new bell was cast in Innsbruck by the Grassmayr company. At 2,700 kilograms, it is about 1,100 kilograms heavier than the old bell.

At the foot of this path, which winds along the steep mountainside over uneven basalt steps, there is a memorial plaque commemorating the builder of this path and also showing him and his daughter in a photo.

Schlettau circular hiking trail »On the steps of Ottomar Zahm« The circular hiking trail leads from Schlettau to the nearby Scheibenberg. The ascent takes place via several steps made of basalt stones that Ottomahr Zahm created over 100 years ago. The hike leads centrally from Schlettau with good parking options towards Waltherdorf via the so-called Kirchsteig. From Walthersdorf it initially goes gradually uphill to the foot of the Scheibenberg. On the circular trail you can decide whether you want to tackle the summit or whether you want to take a leisurely hike around the Scheibenberg. The ascent via the so-called Ottomahr-Zahm-Steig is definitely recommended. A wonderful view and a shelter halfway invite you to do so. Once you have reached the top, you go back down the opposite side and over beautiful field paths and through the Schlettau city forest back to the starting point.

Very nice, rustic climb.

It's amazing when you know that someone secretly created this path with 300 steps and across the scree in order to have something useful to do.

Ottomar Zahm Steig, the climb to the Scheibenberg! Ottomar Zahm created the climb to the Scheibenberg named after him between 1931 and 1934. He painstakingly built over 300 steps through the impassable sea of basalt blocks. The climb climbs approx. 85 meters and is approx. 850 meters long. Approximately in the upper third of the climb is the Ottomar Zahm Hut, a rest stop with a fantastic view of the Ore Mountains. It says there "The tired hiker finds rest, Every guest is welcome, Seek shelter and come in, But remember, I want to be clean"

In many cities there are monuments in the shape of a bell that are intended to serve as a memorial for peace. Examples of this are: - the Chorweiler peace bell, - the Peace Bell (Bad Neustadt an der Saale) - the Peace Bell (Dessau) in Dessau-Roßlau - the Peace Bell (Frankfurt (Oder)) m - the peace bell on the Fichtelberg in the Ore Mountains and many more. In 2009, Gerd Schlesinger, tower keeper of the city of Schwarzenberg, suggested setting up a ringable church bell on the Fichtelberg, which would be considered a monument to the unity of Germany. Its bells should be heard as far away as the neighboring Czech Republic and thus also ring for a united Europe. Many private individuals and companies were active in the project or contributed donations.