Journey Forest cable car and cities in Saxony

• Travel Forest funicular and city in Saxony

In these gray days of February snowless winter, when the eyes almost can not see the other colors except gray-brown palette, the desire to heat, sun and green than ever before. Therefore, I publish a post that tells about a trip, perfect me in mid-May of last year. Route the remarkable fact that in one day you can visit the three castles, a stunning and a little-known town, consisting almost entirely of beautiful historical buildings and a couple of small but beautiful villages.

Now, first things first ...

The region, which will be discussed in this series of posts called the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) and is located in the south of Saxony. It is a mountainous area with numerous castles, ancient villages and beautiful towns, which virtually did not change its appearance over the last two hundred years. To travel through the region there is a very convenient train, the so-called Erzgebirgebahn. It starts from Chemnitz and runs every hour to every station Cranzahl, on the border with the Czech Republic. Thus, buying a day ticket, you can freely move along the route of this train, each station on the way which is rich in bright places that I will show in this and subsequent posts.

Orange Line - Erzgebirgebahn

The first stop on my way Erdmannsdorf-Augustusburg. At this station just three attractions: Forest funicular, hunting castle and the old town with a 800 year history. funicular station is located immediately opposite the train stop. On the map is marked on top of the funicular brown appendix extending from Erdmannsdorf-Augustusburg station.

The history of the funicular has more than a hundred years. Construction of the cable car, designed to connect the town Augustusburg, located on a hill, situated at the foot of the hill railway station, was launched August 31, 1910 and June 24, 1911 the funicular was officially put into operation. This moment is captured in the following cards. As can be seen on the photos, the building of the funicular has hardly changed in a hundred years.

But the area around has changed. Where there were fields, it has now grown forest.

At the top of the hill is the castle: the main attraction of this place.

Since the commissioning of the cable car functioned hundred three years of its history, with breaks for repair and renovation of the infrastructure. In 1956, the cable car together with all the infrastructure was included in the state register of protected historical monuments. Funicular railway rolling stock has changed the history several times. The first time - in the late 1920s and most recently in 1996, when the funicular underwent extensive renovations, including the way station, and trailers.

In 1961, the trailers were as follows:

Today cabins have a more modern look and design.

The funicular operates in fully automatic mode. The trailer is on time every twenty minutes.

The width of the path of 1000 mm, the route length of 1240 meters, which carriage rides for eight minutes at a speed of 11 km / h. The difference in height between the lower and upper stations - 168 meters.

Despite the fact that the cable car control is fully automatic, in each of the two cabins have cab. Probably for some emergencies.

Almost the entire route passes through picturesque woods.

At the cable car used a scheme with two non-motorized carriages rigidly attached rope which is driven by a motor located at the upper station. Halfway two car leaving.

Each of the cabins with a balcony for the transportation of bicycles.

The main engineering construction on the road is a viaduct. On the way back to examine it in more detail.

The path runs through a stunningly beautiful area, especially beautiful this time of year.

drive to the top station of the cable car.

The panel driver devices.

Here is the interior of the trailer. Simple, but at the same time cozy.

Yes, and the trailer is not devoid of the modest charm.

This is the "waiting room" Erzgebirge - a beautiful mountain area in the south of Saxony. There is still no mountains, but not plain.

The macula - a blooming canola, one of the most common crops in Saxony. At least, it is seen from a train window when rapeseed field flicker in a window with astonishing speed.

The main attraction of the town - the hunting castle Augustusburg visible everywhere.

The house with a beautiful pinnacle for sale.

I can imagine some stunning views of the open windows. I always dreamed of living in a lighthouse or on top of some tower: To review was stunning and comfortable inside. So this little turret shook my imagination.

Before you go for a walk around the castle, I decided to go look at the eponymous town.

In the town of Augustusburg lives a little less than five thousand people and like any small town in Saxony Augustusburg charming, the atmosphere and stunningly beautiful.

Look how perfect cleanliness, order and beauty around! That there is only a stone blocks, which chained the whole city!

Lamps, pitching, abundance of flowers and a beautiful historical building - in Augustusburg well everything!

The bell tower of the Evangelical Church of St. Peter, built in 1845 and blooming chestnuts.

The porch of one of the houses.

The history of the city dates back to 1206, when the castle was first mentioned Schellenberg, located on the site of today's Augustusburg Castle. Its present appearance Town acquired by the end of the 19th century and since then has remained practically unchanged.

I travel a lot for German province and everywhere I see genuine love of the inhabitants of these towns to the place in which they live. This love in every detail, in every stone, in every carefully planted flowers. Kind of provincial towns of a country - is a litmus test that accurately any expert will tell about the manners, tastes, level of development, and culture of living here people. In this regard, the Germans - a model nation.

Take a look at the houses of ordinary people. How they comfort, elegance and great style!

Garden plots.

The town is very small and you can get around it in half an hour. I am heading to the main attractions of this place - the castle.

Postcard early twentieth century with the town of Augustusburg and Castle of the same name. As can be seen on the postcard, the city has since not much has changed.

Home Guard, through which the bridge leading to the castle.

Traditionally, a brief historical background.

The castle on the site was built in the years 1210-1230 and was called Schellenberg. As a result of fires castle was badly damaged in 1528 and in 1547 respectively, and soon was demolished and construction of the new castle started in his place, which lasted from 1568 to 1572 years. Elector of Saxony August the construction of this elegant hunting residence wanted to emphasize his power in these lands.

Augustusburg is located on a cliff, 516 meters in height, which complicated the delivery of water to the castle. For this purpose it was decided to drill a well in rocks. The water was found only at a depth of 130 meters, and drilling wells works lasted from 1568 to 1577.

A few centuries the castle was used Elector of Saxony as a hunting residence. In 1632, during the 30 Years' War the castle was sacked, but not hurt, so survives today in its original form. Since 1922, it operates several museums here. North portal of the castle.

The courtyard. Notice how few people inside. Probably at the weekend then more tourists, but generally these places little known outside Saxony. International tourist rare visitor here.

All of a sudden!

A couple of newlyweds wedding limousine instead opted for a more classic and non-pop way to get around.

Tables castle restaurant waiting for tourists.

Beauty!

At the castle there are several museums, one of Europe's largest motorcycle museum, museum of carriages, the museum of ornithology and hunting museum. Since none of this subject does not interest me, to visit museums, I did not, and was limited to only external examination area.

South portal of the castle is decorated with gorgeous highly detailed coat of arms.

The castle is located on a mountain at an altitude of 516 meters and due to its location and architecture, he was nicknamed "The Crown of Erzgebirge". On the grounds of the castle offers an overview of many tens of kilometers around.

If you love castles, motorcycles and just beautiful places and it does not like crowds, then you should definitely visit.

That concludes my walk through the castle and return back to the cable car station.

On the way back I decided to go on foot. I wanted to explore the more detailed the viaduct, and along to photograph the funicular cabins during the ride.

Erzgebirge region is famous for its handicrafts in particular the manufacture of wood toys and traditional Christmas decorations that you can see on the Christmas markets throughout Saxony. On the way I met this here arc called Schwibbogen and is part of the folk art of the Ore Mountains. The arc displayed major local attraction Augustusburg Castle, funicular and Erzgebirgebahn - train, which connects with the Chemnitz Erzgebirge, on which I travel today.

And here is the most important engineering construction cable car - the viaduct. Beauty!

I wanted to catch the moment when the viaduct will pass the van, but after waiting for ten minutes, and without waiting for trailers have gone further.

The forest in this area is stunningly beautiful and the greens so fresh and bright, which is only in May.

Stream.

At one point I left the forest tracks and climbed the embankment, where waited around the corner seem trailer funicular. We had to wait is not long.

Forest funicular - it's beautiful!

In the trailer a single passenger.

A minute later, after a trailer №2 disappeared around the corner, there seemed trailer №1, next to the bottom station.

This trailer was completely empty.

After completing all the planned targets, I went along the forest paths to the railway station to continue their journey on.

Arriving at the station, and noting that until the next train for half an hour, I decided to walk along the village Erdmannsdorf. In the photo the river Zschopau, which runs along the train route Erzgebirgebahn. At first I even thought to call this a mini-series of posts "along the riverbed Ass", but thought that the name can not be understood by readers, and called the series "Fairy Saxony".

This is the region since the mid-19th century until the country's unification in 1990, has been an industrial region with well-developed textile, automotive and many other industries. On the industrial past of the region today resemble many former factory with the beautiful architecture of the late 19th - early 20th century.

There are also half-timbered houses.

What always surprises me even in the German villages and towns - is an ideal pedestrian and road infrastructure. See how qualitatively made the sidewalks, storm drains and roadway. And it is in a remote province!

This house is offered for sale. It is clear that it needs major repairs, so the price he asked for very modest - 19 000 euros, including land with an area of ​​1000 square meters and a garage.

The house has gas, electricity, water, telephone and sewerage.

come to an end, and I go on to the platform, where at any moment the train is due to arrive at this first part of my journey.

And that's it! These trains are called Erzgebirgebahn and available every hour in both directions between Chemnitz and Krantsalem.