In the very east of Saxony is the scenically very attractive area of Upper Lusatia. The northern area is characterised by the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape, while the Upper Lusatian Mountains are located in the south. The centre of the region is the city of Bautzen.
Vacation in Upper Lusatia
Anyone who spends their vacation in Upper Lusatia will be thrilled by the scenic diversity and beauty of the region. Here you can wander through pine forests in the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape, discover grass and heath landscapes or walk past the countless fish ponds. The biosphere reserve is known as the land of a thousand ponds.
An almost unique landscape is located in the north of Upper Lusatia. Here, due to the open-cast lignite mining and the ended coal mining, an artificial landscape structure has been created, the Lusatian Lakeland.
For those who prefer mountainous regions, the Zittau Mountains are the right region. Here you can hike uphill and downhill and climb one or the other summit cross.
Vacation in the city?
This is also no problem in Upper Lusatia. Bautzen is not only politically the center of the region, the city also has a lot to offer culturally.
Or how about a visit to the film city of Görlitz? Here you can walk in the footsteps of famous actors and film locations and discover a beautiful city.
For those who want to take it a little easier, Zittau on the edge of the Zittau Mountains should not be missed. Here, for example, the Zittau Lenten Cloths and a beautiful old town await the visitor.
Vacation in Upper Lusatia – our tips
Pilgrimage on the Via Sacra - for me it went for the first time on pilgrimage in Upper Lusatia: from Oybin to Görlitz in three stages with visits to sacred sites, on foot and by bike. Three wonderful and varied days that made me want to go on further adventures.
Between Zittau and Görlitz, south of Ostritz lies directly on the Neisse River the monastery St.Marienthal. The monastery is a Cistercian abbey and the oldest women's monastery of the order in Germany.
The Zittau Lenten Cloths belong to the most famous ecclesiastical cultural treasures of Upper Lusatia. You can see them in the Museum of Cultural History and the Church of the Holy Cross in the city of Zittau.
In the Zittau Mountains in Saxony lies the small town of Oybin. Above the village rises the Oybin, a 514 meter high mountain and on it are the ruins of Oybin Castle. A place that is interesting not only for fans of castles, but has written a piece of history.
Not only the eyes of railroad fans or children shine, I was also completely thrilled to be able to ride the Zittau narrow gauge railroad in Upper Lusatia.
Travel information about Upper Lusatia
Arrival
By plane
The nearest airport is in Dresden, about 55 kilometers from Bautzen.
However, due to the flight connections, it may also be worth flying to Berlin-Brandenburg, Prague (Czech Republic) or Wroclaw (Poland).
By train
The nearest major train station with long-distance trains is in Dresden. From there, regional trains run to Bischofswerda, Bautzen, Görlitz, Zittau, Hoyerswerda, Königsbrück and Kamenz.
From Leipzig you can take the S4 to Hoyerswerda.
The Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn ODEG connects Cottbus with Görlitz and Zittau.
By car
The A4 freeway connects Chemnitz/Leipzig-Dresden-Görlitz-Breslau and crosses Upper Lusatia from west to east.
From Berlin you can reach the region on the B96.
By bike
The Germany route D 4 leads from Jena, Gera, Chemnitz and Dresden to Zittau. Popular is the well-developed bike path along Neisse (Oder-Neisse-Radweg).
On foot
The pilgrimage routes of the Via Regia, the Via Sacra and the Way of St. James lead through Upper Lusatia.
On the way in …
By bus and train
Buses and regional trains throughout Upper Lusatia belong to the Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien. With the “Euro-Neiße-Ticket” you can also travel to the bordering parts of Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Zittau narrow-gauge railroad is operated independently and is one of the tourist highlights of the region.
The historic Muskau Forest Railway connects the towns of Bad Muskau, Krauschwitz, Weißwasser and Kromlau.
By bike
There are numerous well-signposted bike paths in the region.
Rental bicycles are available in many places.
On foot
The hiking trails are varied and well signposted.
Language
Many Sorbs live in the region. Between Kamenz, Bautzen and Hoyerswerda about 20,000 people speak Sorbian. Therefore, you will find many signs in German and Sorbian.
In the Bautzen basin quite good High German is spoken, in the south the Upper Lusatian dialect dominates. In the east, Silesian is still partly spoken.
Wolves
For some years now, the wolf has felt at home again in Upper Lusatia. The only reproducing population of wolves in Germany lives in the Muskauer Heide and the Oberlausitzer Teichland.
The animals usually avoid direct contact with humans and wolf sightings are also very rare.