Hotel Zum Poppschen Gut

Traditional Woodcarving Figures of Olbernhau

by Kathrin_E

Olbernhau is part of the Erzgebirge woodcarving country. Everyone talks about Seiffen but all the other places in the area also have their workshops of toy-makers and woodcarvers.

Olbernhau's woodcarvers have created three traditional figures which are typical for this place: Nussknacker (Nutcracker), Reiterlein (Little Rider) and Pfefferkurchenfrau (Gingerbread Woman). You'll find them everywhere in the arts&crafts shops. During Advent and Christmas oversized versions are put up in market square. Nutcracker and Rider are toy soldiers in colourful uniforms while the Woman refers to gingerbread pastry.

Olbernhau

by Kathrin_E

The small town of Olbernhau is hardly known outside the region. Actually I had not planned to visit it either. My intention were hopping off the train and onto the next bus to Seiffen and bye-bye. The bus would not show up where I expected it to, though, so I had an hour to kill until the next. It was the sunniest of winter's days so I took the camera and went for a walk of the town.

A Wombat in Olbernhau

by Russell_the_Wombat

A wombat in where??? Well, we had never heard of that place before, and I guess hardly anyone here ever has. I think I am the first wombat who ever visited. We actually had not planned to visit this little town in the Ore Mountains at all, to tell the truth. All the plan included was changing from train to bus there on the way to much more famous Seiffen...

However, the bus that was supposed to arrive outside the train station never showed up. We have no idea what happened to it. After waiting for a while we ventured down to the bus station to find out that the next one was due more than an hour later. So we had an hour to kill and set out to explore the place and take some photos - instead of freezing our ***es off at the bus stop.

That's how we got to know Mieze, the cat of the woodcarving shop, and her dad! More inside...

Wow... My page is the first ever about Olbernhau on VT!

Winter Views of Flöha Valley

by Kathrin_E

These photos are snapshots taken from the train. They were taken during travel from Flöha to Olbernhau along the Flöha valley.

The Flöha valley is one of the majour valleys in the central Ore Mountains, important for traffic. The train line leads from Flöha, where it connects to the route Dresden-Chemnitz, up the valley to Olbernhau-Grünthal.

The villages along the valley have quite a bit of small industries.

The train viaduct belongs to the Dresden-Chemnitz railway.

The Cat of the Woodcarving Store

by Russell_the_Wombat

By coincidence we spotted a little store that is selling woodcarvings. They had cute little mini-pyramids in the shop window and we decided to go in and buy one.
Note to Mommy: take a photo of the one we bought to post here.

When Mommy arranged her bag to pack it the shop owner spotted me sitting in it. He was curious what animal I was and told us he likes stuffed animals, too, and has one who lives in the shop. He introduced me to Mieze, the cat of the store.

So we had a chat with that really nice guy and that really nice cat and took some photos in the shop.

Mieze's usual seat is on top of the shelf with the Schwibbogen. There she is safe and can observe everything.

Note to Russell: The photo has been taken - here it is. Mommy

This is the little Wärmespiel we bought in Mieze's shop. It works like a pyramid but without candles. The propeller wings move the middle part with the three singers. It has to be put up where warm air rises, i.e. above the heating, either standing on the window sill or hanging in the window.