Whispers of a hidden treasure intrigue you don’t they? Welcome to Chemnitz’s Zeisigwald. This vast forest a remnant of the ancient Miriquidi Erzgebirge forest is more than just trees and trails. It’s a living chronicle of Chemnitz’s history.
Since 1331 the Zeisigwald has been documented. Initially called the Kaiser’s forests it belonged to the Benedictine monastery of Chemnitz. From 1331 to 1549 it allegedly hosted secret courts. Legend says a treasure was buried here during the Hussite Wars. In 1402 Chemnitz bought parts of Gablenz including some of the forest. The name Zeisigwald meaning siskin forest originates from the bird trapping that once thrived here. Other names like Rathswald Communewald and Königsforst reflect changing ownership.
The western part of the forest passed to Chemnitz in 1546 after secularization. The eastern portion remained under various state authorities. Chemnitz lost its hunting rights in 1567 regaining them only in 1814. The Zeisigwald sits on an ancient volcanic area a caldera. Extensive porphyry tuff mining occurred from at least the mid-16th century. Chemnitz gradually acquired the eastern sections. A 1761 survey by Trenkmann measured the forest at 160.1 hectares. The current division into sections and paths resulted from an 1847/48 survey by Menges.
Beyond its economic and military use the Zeisigwald has become a beloved recreational area. In 1950 it was fully incorporated into Chemnitz. Only its northernmost tip belonged to Niederwiesa. The highest point Beutenberg at 420.9 meters is a volcanic remnant. It served as a triangulation point 92 for the Royal Saxon triangulation. A 6.1-meter-tall porphyry column once stood here. Sadly it disappeared after 1930. The forest boasts diverse flora and fauna.
Ten areas totaling 28 hectares are designated as natural monuments. These include the Erlensumpf a wetland with rare plants and birds and the Fuchsberg and Ratssteinbruch preserving the unique quarry landscape. Five areas of beech forest are protected as valuable habitats. The former Ratssteinbruch a quarry is now part of a World Forestry Council FSC reference area. It’s untouched a mini-wilderness.
The Zeisigwald’s history is woven into its very fabric. The remains of quarries create a unique landscape. The Teufelsbrücken devil’s bridges are a testament to the region’s stone-cutting past. Sadly they’re crumbling. There are memorial stones for Anton Günther and Heinrich Cotta. The Cotta stone was unfortunately stolen then replaced. The Saxon Jacob’s Way passes through. Numerous smaller streams crisscross the Zeisigwald. Several smaller bogs have formed. The forest offers hiking biking and even mountain biking trails.
The Zeisigwald’s story is far from over. It continues to evolve as a natural and historical treasure for Chemnitz and its visitors. So take your time absorb the atmosphere and let its tales unfold before you.