Pumpkins, Minecraft, Surfing: Vacation Adventures in Saxony

Two weeks off from school—now what? It’s not just zoos and amusement parks that are drawing visitors one last time during fall break before the cold season sets in. Here are a few tips for a varied vacation itinerary. 

Fall is pumpkin season—a taste of Halloween

Pumpkins are as much a part of fall as snow and ice are of winter. These large fruits are perfect for delicious dishes and spark creativity—not just on Halloween. For example, Lichtenwalde Castle near Chemnitz and the Oskarshausen Amusement Park in Freital are hosting pumpkin-themed festivals. In Oskarshausen, sculptures made from more than 50,000 pumpkins have been created, including what the park claims is Saxony’s largest pumpkin pyramid. In addition, a pumpkin exhibition featuring 130 varieties and a hands-on “Pumpkin Olympics” are on offer.

In Lichtenwalde’s Baroque Park, the pumpkin sculptures are themed around Ancient Rome. Visitors can also reunite with the comic book heroes Asterix and Obelix. Fans of all things spooky can also get into the Halloween spirit there on October 17 and 18—with walking acts, acrobatics, and a fire show. 

Ores from Minecraft, but in real life

Are your kids crazy about collecting resources in the video game Minecraft? Then a trip to Terra Mineralia in Freiberg might be worth it. There, kids can search for hidden ores and rocks in the exhibition. “Among other things, this teaches them what minerals the ores are made of in the real world, what they look like, and whether they even exist,” the organizers said. With worksheets and stickers, visitors can also create their own Minecraft world. The program “Little Builders—Minerals and Ores in Minecraft” runs from October 10 to 22.

Outdoor swimming lessons—or would you rather go to the indoor pool?

A visit to the indoor swimming pool is a true vacation classic. Many places have special holiday hours. Local municipalities provide information about this online. Those who don’t need it to be as warm as in an indoor pool, however, could also try their hand at surfing. At Schladitzer Bay in Leipzig, children’s surfing lessons are being offered today (October 11)—one hour each for beginners and advanced surfers.

Wandering through castles and museums in the dark

In the fall, the days are already significantly shorter, but sometimes things get especially exciting as darkness falls. At Augustusburg Castle in the Ore Mountains, for example, visitors can roam through the historic rooms with flashlights on several evenings during the fall break and even peek behind some doors that are otherwise locked. And at Scharfenstein Castle, also in the Ore Mountains, visitors can first make their own lanterns—and then wander through the castle by their light.

The Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig is also inviting visitors on October 23 to discover the exhibition from an unusual perspective in the evening. “In the glow of flashlights, fascinating objects and exciting stories come to light—ones that often go unnoticed during the day,” the museum says. 

Colorful forests and bizarre rock formations: Get out into nature

Before the leaves fall from the trees, they turn a wide variety of colors and bring a touch of Indian Summer to Saxony. Whether shrouded in morning fog or bathed in the light of the autumn sun, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, with their rock formations, offer a very special charm at this time of year. This charm is best experienced on foot during a hike. 

There’s a wide variety of hikes to choose from. On its website, the tourism association recommends, for example, the hike from Rathen to the Hockstein Lookout and back via the Polenztal Valley and the Gamrig rock formation. “Passing by small streams, sweeping views, and the occasional inn, you can truly enjoy autumn here.”

Off to the Underworld

Every town has an underworld—but in Geithain, in Central Saxony, you can actually explore it. Beneath the Kirchberg lies an extensive network of tunnels. It was created by miners from the Ore Mountains, who carved the tunnels and niches into the hard quartz porphyry. According to the local history museum, the residents of Geithain once used these tunnels to store supplies. Today, the underground tunnels are a tourist attraction. Every Saturday, they can be explored on guided tours by appointment.