Experience Region Cycling Route 6: In the footsteps of Dresden city history and old railway tracks Route length: 55 km Profile: difficult, very long climbs Starting point: Dresden Old Town (Elbe Cycle Route, near Carolabrücke)
Starting at the Carolabrücke, Route 6 runs along the edge of Dresden’s culturally and historically valuable Old Town to Pirnaischer Platz, where you can learn about the state capital's history at the City Museum. You then follow the route to the German Hygiene Museum with its famous exhibit of the Glass Man from 1930. The museum’s founding in 1912 was initiated by Odol manufacturer Karl August Lingner. Near the Glass Manufactory, you reach the Großer Garten. The park, established in 1676 by Elector Johann Georg II and originally outside the city gates, has been open to the public since the mid-19th century. Attractions include a visit to the Dresden Zoo and a ride on the park railway.
Further along the route, you will soon see one of the two old gasometers on the right. The smaller building, 130 years old, houses the Panometer. Since 2006, artist Yadegar Asisi has exhibited several panoramic paintings there, transporting visitors to important eras of the city’s history.
Continuing, you reach Freital-Burgk via Kaitz. The route follows the former Windbergbahn track starting from Marienschacht, where the Mining and Regional Museum is located. Known as the “Saxon Semmering Railway,” Germany’s first mountain railway was considered a technical masterpiece at the dawn of railway construction. The route passes near Burgk Castle to the center of Freital, where you can visit the Reichard House, former residence of the balloonists Wilhelmine and Gottfried Reichard.
Along the old narrow-gauge railway track, you continue to Freital-Zauckerode, known for coal mining. A reminder of the former mining is the winding tower near Oppelschacht, relocated from the old Dresden-Gittersee shaft site. Finally, the route leads to the town of Wilsdruff, first documented in 1259. On a detour to the market, you can admire the world’s first glass bell chime at the Wilsdruff town hall. The ruby-red bells made of Lauscha glass ring four times daily and on special occasions. Passing Jakobi Church, probably the oldest Romanesque hall church in eastern Saxony, you reach Gompitz after several villages, offering a good view of Dresden and the Elbe valley.
Then you descend through the Plattenbau district of Gorbitz and return to Dresden city center on the east-west route.
Note: The town halls in the Experience Region offer the brochure “Cycling & Discovering in the Dresden Experience Region” with more information.
www.erlebnisregion-dresden.de
