Annaberg-Buchholz

Annaberg-Buchholz is a district capital in Erzgebirgskreis, Saxony, sitting at 635 meters elevation across forested hills. The town lies in the western Ore Mountains near the Czech Republic border, combining dense development with green slopes and narrow valleys.

The discovery of silver deposits in 1491 prompted Duke George of Saxony to found Annaberg as a mining town. Annaberg and neighboring Buchholz merged into a single municipality in 1945 after existing separately for centuries.

The name Annaberg honors Saint Anne, patron saint of miners, while Buchholz refers to the beech forests that once covered the surrounding slopes. Visitors encounter a town shaped by mining traditions, where steep lanes and dense construction reflect centuries of work underground.

Regional bus lines and train connections link the town with larger centers across Saxony and the Ore Mountains. Streets follow the terrain and often climb steeply, making sturdy footwear helpful when exploring on foot.

Saint Anne's Church, the largest late Gothic hall church in Saxony, displays finely carved stonework and details from the mining era. Its scale and craftsmanship surprise visitors who do not expect such grandeur at this elevation.