Oederan: Saxony is home to Germany’s oldest miniature park

Famous buildings and places in miniature format never cease to amaze people. The best example of this is the always well-attended Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg , which opened in 2000 and has been continuously expanded ever since.

Considerably older, yet less well-known, is the Klein-Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) in Oederan, Saxony . This miniature park is not only the oldest in Germany , but also one of the oldest of its kind in the world. In 1933, the first locals began building faithful replicas of the miniatures, at a scale of 1:25. They used the blueprints of the actual buildings and based their designs on them.

The steep wall of Meerane is one of over 210 miniatures in the small Ore Mountains.

Source: imago images/suedraumfotos

The Klein-Erzgebirge originated from the so-called Nativity Scene Association in Oederan, which was founded in 1909. The founders' goal at the time was to "give new impetus to Erzgebirge folk art and preserve valuable folk culture," as stated on the website.

In 1924, the association evolved into a group dedicated even more intensively to local folk art. It was precisely thanks to these members that the Little Ore Mountains opened in Oederan's city forest in 1933. The small castles and houses were all painstakingly crafted by hand.

There is also a miniature of Moritzburg Castle.

Source: imago images/suedraumfotos

After the difficult war years, a group of hobbyists and carvers resumed work on the miniatures, and in 1955, the Little Ore Mountains was able to reopen. In the 1990s, a comprehensive renovation took place, and alongside all the improvements, new miniatures were constantly being added. The attention to detail has never been neglected over the years. Today, the association has 50 members who look after the park.

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The miniatures are limited to Saxony and Central Germany. Among them are Kriebstein Castle and Moritzburg Palace. There are also many houses and buildings that may not be well known, but certainly showcase the traditional architectural style of Erzgebirge houses. New miniatures are added every year; currently, there are over 210 to view.

There are also traditional Erzgebirge houses to see.

Source: imago images/Wolfgang Schmidt

Especially when such small works of art are made of materials like wood, the ravages of time are almost impossible to stop. So, it happens again and again that one or another miniature needs to be replaced. Most recently, this affected the Augustusburg Castle, which will be ceremoniously rededicated on August 16th.

There's also a railway carriage on site that can be used for picnics or rented for celebrations. The Little Ore Mountains are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of October. There's also a free parking lot. Adults pay €10 admission, children (4-14 years) €5, and seniors, schoolchildren, students, and severely disabled people €8. Leashed dogs are allowed in the park.

New miniatures are added every year.

Source: imago images/Wolfgang Schmidt

For example, you can reach the Klein-Erzgebirge from Dresden in an hour by car or train. The regional train RB30 goes directly to Oederan and takes just under an hour. If you're staying in Leipzig and want to visit Germany's oldest miniature park, you'll need to allow about an hour and a half by train or car.

The quickest way to reach it is from Chemnitz, where it takes just 21 minutes. A visit to Chemnitz is definitely worthwhile, especially this year, as it's the European Capital of Culture in 2025.

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travel reporter