The Nutcracker Museum in Neuhausen, deep in the Ore Mountains, is impossible to miss thanks to Borso von Riesenburg, the world's largest functioning wooden nutcracker standing guard over 10 meters tall right at the entrance. This privately run museum grew from the collections of local residents and has become one of the region's most charming attractions for anyone curious about traditional woodcarving craftsmanship.

Step inside and you'll find a world of handcrafted wonders — over 5000 nutcracker figures from 30 countries, alongside music boxes and hand-carved wildlife. The atmosphere feels especially magical in autumn and winter, when the Ore Mountains lean into their famous Christmas spirit and the whole region seems to celebrate the folk art it's known for. It's a cosy stop whatever the weather, and a particularly memorable one if you're travelling with kids.

• Neuhausen/Erzgeb. town center — the museum sits right in the village, easily reached by car or local transport, easy access
• A convenient stop if you're exploring the wider Ore Mountains region on foot or by car

• Officially registered as a museum in 1993
• Borso von Riesenburg, the record-holding nutcracker — 10.10 m tall, over 3 tonnes, entered the Guinness World Records in 2010
• Collection of over 5000 nutcrackers from 30 countries
• Also home to the world's largest music box and a giant chair 3.83 m high

The building itself began life as a 19th-century chair factory, which explains the oversized chair standing outside — together with Borso, it has made this small village a genuine landmark destination.