Major Hiking Festival: The Ore Mountains Attract Hikers from All Over Europe

Over the next few days, the Ore Mountains will become a destination for thousands of hikers from Germany and across Europe. As part of the European Eurorando Hiking Festival, taking place next week, the program features around 50 hikes on both the Saxon and Czech sides, which participants can tackle on their own or with a guide. The European hiking festival is held every five years—and this is the first time it will be a cross-border event. At the same time, the German Hiking Day, which will draw many more hiking enthusiasts to the Ore Mountains. 

“Hiking is very popular in the region and has grown in importance,” says Ines Hanisch-Lupaschko, managing director of the Erzgebirge Tourism Association. Hikers don’t just come here to enjoy nature; they also appreciate the close connection to other recreational and cultural activities. A unique selling point is the region’s mining history, which is intertwined with many living traditions. 

Since 2019, the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region on both sides of the German-Czech border has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area also boasts numerous reminders of its centuries-long mining history. 

Kickoff for a New Trail Running Route

Coinciding with the hiking festival, a new event aimed at athletic hikers will be launched. Following the Stoneman Miriquidi—in which mountain bikers conquer nine peaks over a route of roughly 160 kilometers in three, two, or just one day—the starting signal for the spin-off “Hike + Trailrun”. Following the same principle, participants can then hike or run a route of 62 or 86 kilometers. It stretches from the Fichtelberg in the east to Johanngeorgenstadt in the west, crossing the peat bog in Gottesgab and the Rolava Valley on the Czech side.

Hiking is a popular leisure activity for many people in Germany. According to surveys, two out of three Germans aged 16 and older hike regularly, says Bernd Hartmann, managing director of the German Hiking Association, based in Kassel. The range of motivations is broad: While some seek peace and quiet in nature or embark on a spiritual pilgrimage, others are drawn to the athletic challenge of trail running or a hiking marathon. 

According to the data, there is a hiking trail network spanning approximately 300,000 kilometers nationwide. A number of these are certified as “quality trails.” These include, for example, the Panoramaweg in the Altmühl Valley, the Druidensteig in the Westerwald, and the Harzer Hexen Stieg, as well as the Oberlausitzer Bergweg and the Kammweg Erzgebirge-Vogtland.