Dreibächel is a small but special nature reserve on the edge of the Vogtland and Ore Mountains, right where three mountain streams meet. Tucked away in the forest, it's home to the oldest spruce stand in all of Saxony - a real rarity in this part of Germany.

The reserve sits on the slope of the Schneehübel mountain, right at the spot where the Diebsbach and Markersbach streams join forces, with the Cunitzbach flowing in a little further downstream - hence the name Dreibächel, meaning 'three little streams'. The forest here has long been managed as a Plenterwald, a selective-cutting system that lets trees of different ages grow side by side, creating a wonderfully natural, uneven-aged woodland. In summer it's cool and shaded with the constant sound of running water, in autumn the forest turns golden, and in winter the whole area settles into the quiet, snowy stillness typical of the Ore Mountains.

How to get there

• Morgenröthe (Vogtlandkreis) — easy walk leading into the reserve
• Carlsfeld (Erzgebirgskreis) — alternative starting point from the other side of the district border

Good to know

• An 800 m nature trail crosses a clearing and tells the story of the oldest trees in the reserve
• It's a protected area, so please stick to the marked paths

This is one of the few places in Saxony where you can stand among truly ancient spruces - a living glimpse of what these forests looked like centuries ago.