Discover Hochkirch: Hiking and Culture

Hochkirch combines hiking trails with a layered Sorbian and ecclesiastical history. If you are looking for a hotel in Hochkirch, you can consider whether hiking or historical sites should be the focus of your stay. The routes differ in their length, starting points and the option of covering part of the journey by regional train.

Hiking: Routes, Starting Points and Navigation

The Hochkirch–Czorneboh–return day hike is 14 kilometres long and starts and ends in Hochkirch. For a different itinerary, consider Route 2: it goes via Pommritz, Waditz and Steindörfel back to Pommritz, starting and ending at Pommritz station. The Seven Bridges Trail passes through the “Siebenbrücken” railway viaduct near Pommritz. These details help distinguish routes with different starting and ending points.

Route 5, “Three Fortifications – Breitendorf,” uses the regional train to Pommritz; the return journey from Breitendorf is on the Bautzen–Görlitz line. The Three Fortifications route also has audio stations at interesting points along the way. If you plan one of these tours, check current train connections and trail conditions in advance.

The Hochkirch hiking map includes layers for sights, places to eat and rest, car parks and public transport. Hiking tours in the Hochkirch area include GPS tracks and GPX files. This lets you take the available navigation aids into account when preparing and compare tour information with the stated starting and ending points.

Sorbian History and Historical Sites

After the Reformation, Hochkirch developed into a centre of Evangelical Sorbian life. A pastor from Hochkirch was among the translators of the Bible into Sorbian; the first Sorbian superintendency was also based in Hochkirch. These milestones illustrate different aspects of local church history, from the Sorbian Bible translation to church organisation.

The local history museum is housed in a restored half-timbered building. Exhibits include historical everyday objects and documents, as well as changing exhibitions. The museum barn contains a diorama of the 1758 Battle of Hochkirch. Group tours can be arranged in advance. If you would like to join a group tour, make arrangements before your visit.

The historic church ensemble includes an Evangelical church with a Baroque tower, a 13th-century baptismal font and a church door with bullet holes. It also features a monument to Jacob von Keith, two obelisks in the churchyard, a hand-forged tower clock mechanism from 1751 and the Lehnsche crypt from the 17th century. These features range from medieval furnishings to later memorials and burial sites.

The Niethen rampart is considered one of the best-preserved and most imposing fortifications in Upper Lusatia. As its condition and accessibility may change, check the current situation if you are planning a visit. A recurring cultural event is the Bird Wedding programme by the Sorbian National Ensemble: it is performed every January at the Concert and Ballroom. Check the date of the current performance before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Oßling, Königswartha, Bernsdorf, Doberschau-Gaußig, Göda, Elsterheide, Nebelschütz, Pulsnitz.

For the regional travel overview: Bautzen District.