With its unique nature, Upper Lusatia offers numerous excursion destinations that you can discover optimally while hiking – ideally directly in a short vacation. You can rarely experience forests, lakescapes and rare wild animals in Germany as undisturbed as here. But also in search of action and culture you will find it in Upper Lusatia.
Finding destinations in Upper Lusatia is not difficult – the area is so diverse that it is almost difficult to choose one. The Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape has been designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 1996. There are 5,200 different animal species here, 1,200 of which are on the red list. The most spectacular are probably wolves and white-tailed eagles, which you can spot in the wild here with a little luck.
To help guests get to know and protect this unique nature, local rangers offer guided tours and excursions. Best of all, if you’re traveling with children, these tours are usually free.
But you can also explore the area on your own on the numerous hiking trails and nature trails. The special thing about Upper Lusatia is that it is more sparsely populated than almost any other biosphere reserve. Thus, nature has a lot of space and with patience and a trained eye you will see species here that have become very rare, not only in Germany.
We have put together three particularly exciting hiking tours with highlights from nature, culture and outdoor fun for you here.
The Oberlausitzer Bergweg (Upper Lusatian Mountain Trail)
The Oberlausitzer Bergweg measures 118 kilometers and leads from Neukirch (just south of Bautzen) to Zittau in the border triangle of Germany-Poland-Czech Republic.
From the granite peaks of the Oberlausitzer Bergland (Upper Lusatian Mountains) you hike over the volcanic mountains on the Czech border ridge to the sandstone formations in the Zittau Mountains. Almost every summit has a lookout tower from which you can enjoy the view of the wild and romantic landscape.
There’s a lot to discover along the way – from the pottery workshops in Neukirch to the source of the Spree River at Kottmar to the Berg Oybin monastery complex with bizarre mushroom-shaped rock formations in the immediate vicinity.
The trail is divided into six well-maintained stages. So you can explore the area in a hike of several days. Along the way, cozy mountain inns invite you to stay a while. As accommodation, for example, the specially awarded Upper Lusatian hiking hotels, which offer numerous services for hikers.
By the way, the hiking route is identical with the eastern section of the long-distance hiking trail Zittau-Wernigerode, which has its starting point in Zittau.
Also interesting: Hiking in the Harz Mountains: The Harzer-Hexen-Stieg
Hiking from Bautzen around the Bautzen Dam
A popular destination in Upper Lusatia is the Bautzen Dam. From Bautzen, you can take a relaxing short hike to the reservoir and then walk around it. From the “Alten Kaserne” you keep north in the direction of the district Gesundbrunnen. Where the course of the Spree widens, take the pedestrian bridge and cross the river. This will take you to the district of Oehna. From here you can turn right and cross the small dam wall and you are already at the “Bautzener Meer” (Sea of Bautzen), as the locals call their reservoir.
Now you can keep on the eastern side always on the shore of the lake. After about 8 kilometers you will reach Gottlobsberg, which is a good place for a short rest. On the way there are always viewpoints and various boards that inform you about the lake and the area. The circuit of the lake takes about four hours and measures 14.5 kilometers.
If you want, you can also turn off in Oehna and follow the signs with the yellow line. Then you will reach Kleinwelka via the villages of Neumalsitz and Lubachau. Here, especially children’s hearts beat faster: there is a dinosaur park as well as a labyrinth. The Kleinwelka history trail also invites you to explore the town center.
A few kilometers away is the small village of Schmochtitz with a knight’s estate, which is surrounded by gardens and is perfect for a short walk.
Hiking on the nature adventure trail Guttauer Ponds and Olba Lake.
The perfect starting point to explore the pond landscape in Upper Lusatia is the village of Wartha. Here you will find the “Haus der tausend Teiche” (House of a Thousand Ponds), a visitor and information center that provides many interesting insights into the special features of the biosphere reserve.
Children and adults will find a multimedia exhibition, a giant aquarium and a water adventure area to discover and play. In addition, the nature experience trail starts here with 30 interactive stations that provide plenty of variety, especially for younger hiking enthusiasts. Fields, marshes and several ponds are waiting to be crossed and circumnavigated – partly over reed walkways, partly along well-maintained paths. A folding map, which is available free of charge at the visitor center, provides information about the various routes of the adventure trail.
Also interesting: Alone for hiking in the mountains?
Conclusion: In Upper Lusatia, everyone will find the right excursion destination.
Upper Lusatia offers excursion destinations to suit every taste – whether as undisturbed as possible on one of the more remote and less visited hiking trails in the heath landscape or around the offers of the biosphere reserve. If you decide to spend your vacation in Germany, you should definitely take a closer look at Upper Lusatia.
