On the Upper Lusatian mountain trail over extinct volcanoes

The first stage is a worthy prelude to your hike through the mountainous landscape of Upper Lusatia.You start your tour at the station Neukirch Lausitz (West) and climb up to the Valtenberg. Here you are still in the landscape of the Lusatian Highlands and the Valtenberg is the highest peak. Once at the top it goes up to the lookout tower and in front of you spreads your hiking area of ​​the next few days. To the north, the lowlands of Lusatia expands, while to the west and south, the hills of the mountains are. Towards the east rises the Lusatian Mountains, over whose summit the mountain trail leads over.Full of anticipation for the next stages you follow the trail down and on rustic forest trails it goes past Rita's Waldhaus in the direction of the German-Czech border. Here, the forest opens up and gives you a view of the undeveloped and picturesque landscape: wide meadows, dense forests and striking mountains to the horizon.The trail follows the border and finally you reach the village Sohland on the Spree with its old-venerable houses and alleys.The starting point of the hike can be reached by the RB 61 of the Trilex Bahngesellschaft from Dresden and Zittau. The train station Neukirch Lausitz (West) is just a stop for needs, so let train staff know in good time that you want to get off. The stage destination Sohland is also connected to the Trilex railway network and thus the tour is also perfect as a day hike.More information and timetables at laenderbahn.com/trilex

Your second hiking day starts in idyllic Sohland. You follow the upper reaches of the Spree a bit and climb steeply behind the reservoir to the summit of Kälbersteine. The trail leads you past massive rock formations, which are up here between the trees in the forest.The mountain trail continues along the ridge and leads you through a depression up to the Bieleboh. On the mountain with the Sorbian name awaits you next to a cozy Bergbaude especially a lookout tower. The climb is well worth it, because far above the surrounding treetops you will be rewarded with a spectacular view far into the Czech Republic.From Bieleboh we descend through Beiersdorf and continue along Steinklunsen. On the top of the Steinklunsen you will find a massive rock wall. Between Hahneberg and Fuchsberg it finally goes on comfortable forest roads to the stage destination Neusalza-Spremberg.The Neusalza-Spremberg train station is also connected to Zittau and Dresden via the RB 61, so you can easily start or end your tour here.

Your third day starts in the small town Neusalza-Spremberg. Passing the rider's house, the mountain path leads you up to the Kuhberg and then runs at a constant height over forest paths and forest roads.Away from the small and numerous villages, your tour today only through dense forests, only occasionally you cross individual roads. Soon you will come across a railway. You follow it to the south and then reach three small ponds, where the stream Bleichewasser has been dammed for many years for the drinking water supply of the nearby villages.Behind the ponds, the wooded area Raumbusch awaits you. The dense spruce forest with its bare and dark trunks is a result of reforestation, only occasionally you can still find the original birch and oak trees.Finally, it goes first on a wide forest road and then on hiking trails up to the Kottmar. The extinct volcano represents the eastern border of the Lusatian Highlands. As you descend, you leave the mountainous area behind you slowly and then on the next stage you reach the neighboring Zittau Mountains.Eibau is also located on the route of the RB61 and you can easily continue to Zittau or Dresden.Since the Kottmarbergbaude is still closed, there is no restaurant on this tour, in which you can take your rest. Our suggestion: Supply yourself with provisions in Neusalza-Spremberg and just pick an idyllic spot for your break on the way.

On the fourth day a real mountain stage awaits you. First it goes on the mountain still cozy from Eibau on Muhlendorf Oderwitz over. In the past there were numerous windmills and water mills, but today there are three lovingly restored windmills left over. The large historic watermill is still in operation today and can be visited.The trail then runs over fields and you always have beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and hills. You pass Leutersdorf, the former home of robber captain Johannes Karasek. Karasek went down in history as a ruthless robber, but the people remembered him as a popular hero who took from the rich to give to the poor. A piece of Leutersdorf away awaits you on the white stone and the Karasek cave.You leave the forest area Hofebusch and the mountain path leads you to Großschönau. From Hutberg above the city you have a fantastic view, before you stroll through the streets with their quaint houses.After leaving Großschönau, the climb to the Zittau Mountains finally follows. 400 meters up to the Weberberg, which is connected via a natural Kammweg with the highest mountain in the Zittau Mountains. The Lausche is an extinct volcano and offers you a unique panoramic view from its summit plateau. The descent from the summit takes place through natural mountain forest of beech, spruce and sycamore, before you reach your milestone Waltersdorf on the Czech border.Directly on the border is the old guard, an old border house. Right next to it you will find the first-class Hotel Rübezahlbaude.On your fourth stage you have in the villages Leutersdorf, Spritzkunnersdorf and Großschönau several ways to stop for a rest. All villages are right on the way and you have to plan only a small detour.

Your fifth stage will take you through the most beautiful landscapes of the Zittau Mountains.The Oberlausitzer Bergweg leads you first on comfortable ways to the famous Nonnenfelsen. The elongated sandstone ridge rises here out of the forest and the name-giving pinnacle appears in the form of three nuns. From up here you can take a look at Jonsdorf and also at the Jonsdorf rock city. The Rock City is a vast sandstone rock area. However, since it is under protection, it can only be admired from afar.Through a narrow gully, it goes down to the spa town of Jonsdorf and from there you follow the path up to the Hochwald, the "observation tower of the Zittau Mountains". Stop up here at the cozy Hochwaldbaude and enjoy the unique view before continuing on to Oybin.Through dense forest, it goes steadily down towards the waypoint. On the way you pass further rock formations, which are hidden here in the forest. Oybin is picturesquely situated below the mountain of the same name and you can walk here between the lovingly restored Umgebindehäusern through. As the stage is not so long, you can even make your way to the castle ruin, which rises above the steep cliffs of Mount Oybin.In Oybin you will find various accommodations where you can spend your night. In addition, the small town is connected to Zittau via the Zittau narrow-gauge railway. Almost the whole year, historic steam trains run here several times a day and rattle comfortably through the idyllic mountain landscape.More information about the narrow-gauge railway at zittauer-schmalspurbahn.de

Your last leg takes you from Oybin through dense forest to Scharfenstein. The strikingly shaped rocky summit has also given the mountain the name "Oberlausitzer Matterhorn". From up here you have a great view of Oybin, the village of the same name and the cliffs of the Ant Hill.If you've had enough, head down the mountain trail to Goldbach, where you'll walk parallel to the tracks of the narrow-gauge railway through the valley. On both sides rise the mountains and sporadically protrude the tips of sandstone rocks from the forest.Before you leave the valley, you can take a rest at the hotel restaurant Teufelsmühle. About forest roads and along fields you come to the border Hartau. You stroll along the small Umgebindehäusern along and shortly after the Dreiländereck it goes into Zittau.Zittau awaits you with its unique historic old town and countless listed buildings. On your way to the train station, the last destination of the Bergweg, you can let the city work on you. The representative buildings tell of a time when Zittau was still a rich trading city. On your return journey by train, you can arrange your thoughts and memories for your hike through the idyllic mountains of Upper Lusatia, while the landscape moves leisurely in front of the window.