Discover Lawalde – Mills, Churches and Trails

When looking for a hotel in Lawalde, your planned stay is a good place to start: milling technology and church art meet a signposted circular hiking trail, with several cycling routes adding to the options. The attractions vary in theme and scope. You can decide whether to focus on local history, a longer hike or a particular cycling distance.

Mills and Churches in Lawalde

The Niedermühle has a mill race about 900 metres long and almost entirely preserved historic milling equipment. It is the only surviving one of the three mills that once stood in Lawalde. Together, the mill race and equipment offer a tangible insight into the town’s milling history.

The listed ensemble includes a Baroque hall church and a separate, solid gate bell tower. The church’s original blue ceiling finish and the floral paintings on the galleries have been restored. Visits are possible in connection with church services or by prior arrangement through the parish office.

Museum and Cactus Collection

The local history museum devotes 400 square metres to the history of the rural population of Upper Lusatia. Its exhibits include a fully furnished weaver’s room and a fully functional handloom. Before your visit, check whether the exhibits are currently on display and the loom is operational.

The Matthes cactus collection was established in 1914 and comprises around 1,500 to 2,000 different species. It is considered one of the oldest verifiably established private cactus collections in Germany. As the collection may change, we recommend asking about its current size before your visit.

Hiking and Cycling

The signposted Lawalde–Lauba circular hiking trail is an easy 20-kilometre route, with a stated walking time of around six hours; the elevation gain is 275 metres. The trail is marked with a green triangle and a green L. Along the way, the route passes the Niedermühle and the village church, then continues through Höllengrund and along the mill race. It combines a longer hike with several of the local cultural attractions.

There are cycling routes of varying lengths. The 11.5-kilometre Lawalde circular route connects Lawalde, Streitfeld and Kleindehsa. The 17-kilometre Cactus Tour starts and ends in Löbau and passes through Lawalde, Streitfeld and Kleindehsa. The 46-kilometre route “Half-timbered Houses in Upper Lusatian Villages” starts and ends in Lawalde; the villages visited include Cunewalde, Crostau, Schirgiswalde and Taubenheim. The 110.5-kilometre Mill Trail passes through Lawalde and runs between Löbau, Großschweidnitz, Obercunnersdorf and the Kottmar area. Check the current signage before setting out.

Sünderstein and the Moated Castle in Kleindehsa

The Sünderstein stands on the left at the exit from Lawalde towards Großschweidnitz. According to local tradition, people sentenced to death are said to have rested there for the last time before going to the gallows hill. The story is presented as a local tradition.

In Kleindehsa, the former moated castle and its park are further attractions in the municipality of Lawalde. The castle complex once housed a branch of the von Carlowitz family; today, it is home to the municipality’s primary school. If you would like to visit the grounds, check access in advance.

Discover more destinations: Lauba, Weißkeißel, Gablenz, Trebendorf, Rothenburg/Oberlausitz, Horka, Großhennersdorf, Niesky

For the main travel overview: Görlitz.