Sohland am Rotstein: Hiking and Mill History

Sohland am Rotstein combines the landscape around the Rotstein with a rich history of mills. This offers two main ways to plan your trip: getting active on trails and roads, or exploring the history of the town. Cycling and mountain biking are also among the activities available around Sohland.

Hiking and cycling around the Rotstein

The landscape around the Rotstein is ideal for hiking and walking. The European long-distance hiking trail E10 passes through Sohland am Rotstein and over the Rotstein. You can include different route options in your plans for the Via Sacra stages: the distance from Löbau to Sohland am Rotstein is about 17 kilometres. The route follows narrow forest and meadow paths and ends with a descent to Sohland am Rotstein. The stage from Sohland am Rotstein to Kodersdorf mostly follows forest and field tracks, with forest trails as well, such as those near the Silberstein. Trail conditions can change, so check the latest route information before setting out.

For cycling and mountain biking, quiet side roads, small avenues, and forest and field tracks around Sohland are good options. You can plan your outings according to your preferred activity: the hiking routes mentioned above follow a variety of trail types, while cycling routes are described as a mix of roads and paths.

Mill history and traces of the past

Sohland am Rotstein stretches for several kilometres along the Schwarzer Schöps and is considered the longest mill village in Upper Lusatia. The historic areas of Ober-, Mittel- and Niedersohland continue to shape the townscape today. This expansive layout and the history of its mills provide a common thread linking different insights into Sohland’s history.

The Bachmann windmill is a post mill of historical and technological significance to the town. It is the only surviving one of the four post mills once found in Sohland. Now functional again, the Bachmann Mill shows visitors how grain was ground into flour in the past. An advance booking may be required to arrange a visit.

Other historic sites offer different perspectives, too. The Sohland church was built in 1844 in the Neoclassical style. On the western summit of the Rotstein are the scant remains of St George’s Chapel, which was probably built in the 11th century. The remains of a double rampart on the Rotstein are a reminder of an earlier fortification, which may date from the Middle or Late Slavic period.

The local history room preserves historical photographs, documents, maps, everyday objects and other records of village life in Sohland am Rotstein. It complements the mill’s technological history with insights into life in the village in earlier times.

Plan your arrival and stay

Sohland am Rotstein is on the B6 federal highway between Löbau and Görlitz and is easily accessible via the A4 motorway. The village centre in Mittelsohland has parking and a bus stop, making it a convenient starting point for visitors. Practical information can change, so check the latest details before you travel.

If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Sohland am Rotstein, first decide what you’d like to focus on: hiking and cycling, or the mill and other traces of local history. This will help you fit the excursions and visits that interest you into your travel plans.

For the broader travel overview: Reichenbach/Oberlausitz.