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Stage 1

Bautzen

Silent treasures and living tradition

Stage 1: Kamenz - Bautzen - Upper Lusatian heath and pond landscape

Bautzen © Sebastian Rose

Literature, monasteries and Sorbian cultural heritage

Between historic city silhouettes, Slavic heritage and tranquil expanses of water, Kamenz, Bautzen and the Upper Lusatian heath and pond landscape invite you to delve deeper - intellectually, historically and atmospherically.

The journey begins in the heart of Upper Lusatia with a stroll through the cradle of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. Between Renaissance houses, an imposing monastery complex and the modern Lessing Museum, you can feel the spirit of thought and debate. Kamenz offers a surprising amount of cultural inspiration - from classical music and literary events to exciting modern architecture.

The stage continues to the Sorbian monastery of St. Marienstern and finally to Bautzen - the city of towers and the cultural center of the Sorbs. Perched high above the River Spree, the city fascinates with its magnificent old town, over twenty towers and an eventful past. Here, German and Sorbian culture meet at eye level - in language, traditions and everyday life.

Just a few kilometers away, a completely different world unfolds: the Upper Lusatian heath and pond landscape - the largest contiguous pond area in Germany. Sustainable fishing has been practiced here for centuries and the landscape resembles a mosaic of water, meadows and forests. Cranes, white-tailed eagles and rare plants make the region a paradise for nature lovers, hikers and quiet connoisseurs. And yet culture can also be felt here: in listed pond farms, old manor houses and traditional festivals.

If you want to experience art, history and nature as one, you will find all of this in the 1st stage - authentic, decelerating and inspiring. Kamenz, Bautzen and the Upper Lusatian heath and pond landscape are not noisy destinations - they are quiet discoveries with a lasting impression.

Day 1: Kamenz

Welcome to Kamenz - a city of enlightenment and clear thinking.

As the birthplace of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Kamenz combines historical heritage with intellectual foresight. The Lessing Museum and the annual Lessing Festival invite visitors to approach the great poet and thinker in an inspiring way. The old town impresses with its colorful town houses, baroque churches and well-preserved monasteries. These imposing buildings also include the monastery church and the St. Annen Sacral Museum, where you can marvel at art treasures from the Renaissance and Middle Ages. You can also experience the city of Kamenz digitally with the audio guide!

Active tip: A short hike up the Hutberg with panoramic views or a seasonal event such as the Hutbergfest are well worthwhile!

Afterwards, take bus 530 (stop "Bahnhof Kamenz") to the Sorbian centerpiece: the St. Marienstern monastery in Panschwitz-Kuckau. The active Cistercian monastery opens the doors to living culture with its herb garden, monastery store and Sorbian tradition.

 

Day 2: Bautzen

Continue with bus 530 (bus stop "Jauer S100, Panschwitz-Kuckau") to Bautzenthe city of towers and Sorbs.

Bautzen is one of the most impressive towns in eastern Saxony - a town that breathes history and lives and breathes cultural diversity. The magnificent old town rises high above the River Spree with its more than 20 towers, narrow alleyways, baroque town houses and the striking Ortenburg Castle, once the seat of the Upper Lusatian estates. In addition to St. Peter's Cathedral and the Imperial Tower, the Old Waterworks is a real highlight in Bautzen! The city is also the cultural center of the Sorbian minority in Germany: bilingual street signs, the Sorbian Museum, traditional festivals such as the Easter Ride and the German-Sorbian Folk Theater bring the rich heritage to life.

Bautzen also has plenty of culinary delights to offer - not least the famous Bautzen mustard, which has its origins here.

The surrounding area invites you to explore: whether it's a walk along the banks of the Spree, a trip to the Bautzen dam or hiking in the Upper Lusatian mountains- Bautzen is an ideal starting point for cultural and scenic experiences.

You can also experience the city digitally with the audio guide!

Day trip to the Upper Lusatian heath and pond landscape

Use the day for a discovery tour of the UNESCO biosphere reserve!

If you want to experience Upper Lusatia in all its tranquil beauty, the Upper Lusatian heath and pond landscape a true natural jewel. Over 1,000 ponds, extensive moors, sparse pine heaths and ancient forests characterize this unique cultural landscape - the largest contiguous pond area in Germany. Traditional fishing has been practised here for centuries, in harmony with nature and characterized by rural manual work, monastery management and sustainable thinking. Be sure to try some original Lusatian fish in one of the beautiful restaurants. Lusatian fish!

The region is a paradise for nature watchers, cyclists and quiet connoisseurs. Cranes, white-tailed eagles, black storks and rare plant species such as sundew and orchids add to the appeal for nature lovers. The well signposted hiking and cycling trails lead through enchanted forests, past pond dams, historic fish masters' houses and small villages with a typical Sorbian character.

But culture is also deeply rooted here: in traditional villages such as Wartha, Guttau and Malschwitz, you will encounter the history of the fishing trade, regional customs and lovingly restored manor houses. Visitor centers such as the House of a Thousand Ponds near Wartha offer exciting insights into the ecology, history and present of this special landscape.

The nature discovery trail in Kreba-Neudorf is a real insider tip. On three circular trails with a total length of 14 kilometers, you can learn vividly how settlement and the associated transformation of the landscape have affected biodiversity.

Highlights on stage 1

  • Augmented Reality Station am Olbasee
    Augmented Reality Station am Olbasee | Foto: MGO

    Augmented Reality am Olbasee

    Malschwitz

    Erlebt mit Augmented Reality den spannenden Wandel am Olbasee in Kleinsaubernitz - vom Tagebau zum Badesee - durch scannen des QR-Codes auf der Schautafel gelangt ihr zur Ansicht.

    Details ansehen
  • Burgtheater Bautzen
    Burgtheater Bautzen | Foto: Marketing-Gesellschaft Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien mbH

    Deutsch-Sorbisches Volkstheater Bautzen

    Bautzen

    Das Deutsch-Sorbische Volkstheater Bautzen stellt in seiner künstlerischen Prägung und Konzeption eine Einmaligkeit in Deutschland dar. Ein Theater - zwei Sprachen.

    Details ansehen
  • Ponickauhaus - Ausstellungen des Museums der Westlausitz Kamenz.
    Ponickauhaus - Ausstellungen des Museums der Westlausitz Kamenz. | Foto: Museum der Westlausitz

    Museum der Westlausitz Kamenz - Ausstellungen im Ponickauhaus

    Kamenz

    Entdecken, anfassen und ausprobieren lautet die Devise im Museum der Westlausitz Kamenz.

    Details ansehen
  • Kloster St. Marienstern
    Kloster St. Marienstern | Foto: PhilippHerfortPhotography

    Kloster St. Marienstern

    Panschwitz-Kuckau

    In der restaurierten Klosteranlage im Weiß-Rot der Barockzeit sind Gäste gern gesehen.

    Details ansehen

Plan 1st stage

Accommodation

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Arrival and public transport

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This measure is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the budget approved by the members of the Saxon state parliament.

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Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien mbH

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With partnership support from the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz
and regional savings banks.