The Neunzehnhain I Dam, also known as the Lower Neunzehnhain Reservoir, is a peaceful body of water tucked away in the Bornwald forest in the Ore Mountains, sitting just below the larger Neunzehnhain II Dam. It's the perfect spot for anyone wanting a quiet walk paired with a bit of water-engineering history over a century old.

What stands out here is the curved gravity dam built from rubble masonry using the Intze principle - an impressive piece of early 20th-century engineering. Surrounded by dense forest, the reservoir offers a different mood in every season: fresh green in spring, cool shade in summer, golden colors in autumn, and a silent, snow-covered landscape in winter. The water supplies drinking water to Chemnitz, so swimming, fishing and water sports are strictly off-limits here - this is a place for walking and taking in the scenery, not for water activities.

How to get there

• From Neunzehnhain village near Lengefeld in the Ore Mountains - forest trail through Bornwald, approx. 30-45 minutes, easy difficulty
• Can be combined with a walk up to the upper Neunzehnhain II Dam

Practical information

• Swimming, fishing and water sports are completely prohibited - the reservoir serves as a drinking water supply
• The surrounding area is a protected drinking water zone
• Only walking around the lake is permitted

Interesting fact: after the dam was built, the entire settlement of Bornwaldhäuser had to be abandoned, and its residents relocated - today only a forestry barn and the ruins of an old spinning mill remain as a reminder of the area's forgotten past.