Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz is a small village in the Vogtland region, but it holds something truly out of the ordinary - the birthplace of Sigmund Jähn, the first German in space. Here you will find a museum entirely devoted to spaceflight, a surprising stop for anyone hiking through the Vogtland hills or the nearby Ore Mountains.

This spot pairs nicely with a day of walking, combining gentle countryside scenery with a genuinely unusual cultural attraction. The surrounding Vogtland landscape is calm and forested, perfect for leisurely strolls, while the village itself keeps a cozy, small-town charm. Summers invite longer rambles through green hills, and winters bring a quiet, snowy atmosphere that makes stepping into the exhibition halls feel like a warm, curious detour from the trail.

How to get there

• Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz (Muldenhammer), reached by local road - the exhibition sits on Dr.-Sigmund-Jähn-Straße, easy access with no mountain ascent required
• Can be combined with hiking trails through the surrounding Vogtland forests and hills

Practical information

• Run by a nonprofit association with over 250 members, including nearly all German astronauts and cosmonauts
• Highlight exhibits: a walk-through Mir space station module, original spacesuits, a V2 rocket engine, the AZUR satellite model, and a MiG-21F-13 aircraft
• Up to 70,000 visitors come here every year
• Note: the site was temporarily closed due to construction work (as of April 2025) - worth checking current status before visiting

Fun fact: the former railway building that originally housed the exhibition still stands today, now home to a guesthouse and bistro with a spaceflight-themed touch.