Well, hello Seiffen! I’m finally here myself, after my friend Anna has already made me curious about Seiffen and its wooden toy makers in a blog post here years ago.
To get here, I have to admit that Seiffen is a little “off the beaten track”. In 2025, attention for the area is kindled through nearby Chemnitz (the city is about an hour and a half away by train and bus) as it is awarded the European Capital of Culture. Nevertheless, you really have to make your way “out here”, and into very east of Germany. Mobile phone reception often cuts out, as the border with neighbouring Czechia is so close.
Then again, Seiffen is rather well-known: as the home of wooden toy makers, as well as some very clever inventions and recognised training courses in this field. Wooden toy maker apprentices even come here from Japan, as evidenced by the speech (in German!) of the talented Japanese artist Maho Ito during the European Toy Maker festival. Wow. But first things first. So how best to get here?
A view of Seiffen from the balcony of my hotel Landhotel Heidelberg, one of several accommodation options in the area.
Public transport to and from the Erzgebirge region.
From the city of Chemnitz, the route first takes you by regional train, then by bus to Seiffen (this connection also runs at weekends, so Seiffen is easily accessible by public transport). From Dresden, you change trains in Freiberg and then take another train and bus. I let myself drift patiently and enjoy the landscape before my eyes.
Bye bye Chemnitz, hello Seiffen: You only have to change once to get to Seiffen from here.
Seiffen: Gently rolling hills and Open Air Country Museum.
Once I arrive in Seiffen, everything is laid out beautifully along the main street: the local Open-Air Museum, my hotel, the former public pool, which is hosting the European Toy Maker Festival. I’ve never seen a setting quite like it, for this kind of festival!
View of the Seiffen Open-Air Museum: Opened as part of the Seiffen Toy Museum, here you can take a tour of a typical 19th-century scattered settlement.
Great meals are to be had at the Landhotel Heidelberg, where I enjoy dinner and a good night’s sleep in Seiffen.
Creative Travel: My experience of the European Toy Maker Festival in Seiffen.
Organised by Chemnitz 2025 European Capital of Culture and DENKSTATT Erzgebirge, the toy village of Seiffen is hosting the first European Toy Maker Festival to mark the Capital of Culture year.
Wooden toy makers from all over Europe are here to demonstrate how creative and vibrant this craft is! I am amazed by the diversity and wealth of ideas of the individual exhibitors, who are happy to have us visitors join in. In no time at all, I am sitting with the young artist Nadine Härting and, thanks to her “Stampimals”, I find myself creating a fun, personalised card for my son’s first day at school. Right next to me, people are turning wood, playing and browsing along happily – creative wood processing really seems to be the key to everything in Seiffen.
“Lost Place goes Happy Place“: with lots of music, cool lighting, delicious street food and plenty of flair, the former public pool area in Seiffen has become the perfect venue for an event of this size.
What I didn’t know: wooden toy makers from all over the world, but especially from all over Germany, come here to learn the recognised profession of wooden toy maker! Josephine Hage, curator of the Makers, Business & Arts project of the Creative Industries Saxony, tells me about the state’s so-called maker hubs, and about how creative tourism is booming. She and her team are particularly busy during the Capital of Culture year: The Maker Advent project has been nominated for the German Tourism Award!
Seiffen, I can already tell, will definitely see me again! Next time, I must bring the kids also. Check this out.
Hello, Seiffen: Typical “toy greeting” at the opening of the local festival.
So this is the venue – a former pool area in Seiffen …
… allowing for a really interesting backdrop to a number of presentations and workshops on stage, such as Maho Ito here from Japan.
The creative mind behind most of the efforts on site: Josephine Hage, who is currently being interviewed on national television. Congratulations on all your creative tourism efforts, Josephine and team!
A little later, it’s my turn to create “Stampimal” cards …
… even incense cones, as seen here with Josephine Hage opposite of me: The Crottendorfer Incense Cone Factory also has a long standing tradition around here.
The artist Uwe Bodenschatz shows me “Addwood”: new creations such as this vase are made from (a little) plastic and (a lot) of wood dust from sawmills.
I appreciate how laid back and inspiring this festival really is! Also, I have never been to a former pool that served as the venue for a creative festival!
There’s something going on everywhere: whether it’s learning, exchanging ideas or playing – I really hope there will be more festivals like this!
Dear Seiffen, I’m sure we’ll see each other again some day!
Another travel tip: Besides Chemnitz, GO!2025 Nova Gorica has also been awarded European Capital of Culture.
As part of the European Toy Maker Festival, I chat with some renowned international representatives of urban and cultural tourism, including urban developer Mattijs Maussen and Mojca Stubelj Ars from the game development company Xcenter in Nova Gorica, the other 2025 European Capital of Culture. This city is also well worth a visit right now!
GO!2025, Nova Gorica! Fun games, such as a portable skittles set, are presented here as part of the European Toy Maker Festival in Seiffen.
How about you: Have you ever been to Seiffen?
As you can glean from my experience, I can highly recommend a visit to Seiffen and the nearby Capital of Culture Chemnitz in Saxony. Check out more ideas and tips for your visit to Chemnitz here.
I have also included this photo link for even more interesting travel pictures from the European Capital of Culture and my trip into the surrounding Erzgebirge area, and Seiffen, near the border with Czech Republic.
Disclaimer: I have been invited by the German National Tourist Board on my trip to Seiffen and Chemnitz European Capital of Culture. All opinions are my own.