Zerbe:Schellerhau (Altenberg) & Altenbe

This art guide examines three special sacred buildings of the Ore Mountains: Altenberg, Schellerhau, and Oberbärenburg. Altenberg is a former mining site in the eastern Ore Mountains, which is reflected in the architecture of the current Altenberg Church. This church was designed in 1991 as a modern central building based on the floor plan of a Greek cross. The spatial effect is significantly influenced by the open concrete structure of the bell tower, which is meant to resemble the headframe of a mine. The village church in Schellerhau dates back to the period between 1591 and 1593, when miners and villagers replaced the original dilapidated wooden chapel with the current stone building. Today, the baroque ensemble of furnishings with its richly decorated ceiling is particularly noteworthy. The Oberbärenburg chapel was built in 1913. It is illuminated from both sides by colored stained glass windows, and a large, colorfully painted chandelier immediately catches the viewer's eye. The associated forest cemetery is also particularly worth seeing.