Der Oberlausitzer Bergweg

Where Germany borders Poland and the Czech Republic

Part of the 526km route between Zittau and Wernigerode, the Oberlausitzer Bergweg runs for 118 kilometres through the highest and most scenic peaks in Upper Lusatia and the Zittau hills. In the villages of Upper Lusatia, look out for the traditional Umgebinde houses, a characteristic feature of this rural region.

Sometimes you want to keep particularly lovely places to yourself. The Upper Lusatia and Zittau hills in the region where Saxony meets the Czech Republic and Poland are cases in point. The uplands around Waltersdorf and the spa resorts of Jonsdorf and Oybin are exceptionally dramatic and beautiful. Rock towers entice you into a spot of climbing, while traditional mountain huts are ideal places to take a break.

The trail starts in the small pottery town of Neukirch, passes the stone-marked source of the River Spree, then heads for the hills that beckon on the horizon. From Mount Lausche and Mount Hochwald, you can enjoy spectacular views across the beech-speckled pine forests and rock formations and well into the Czech Republic. The castle and abbey at Oybin are great attractions, while the Zittau Lent cloth is even more highly prized in cultural and historical terms.