Schönau-Berzdorf a.d.Eigen: Nature, Views and Local Culture

Schönau-Berzdorf a.d.Eigen offers a range of starting points for your trip: landscape and views, traditional architecture, wildlife watching, activities on a farm and time by the water. The places and activities on offer let you decide which themes to focus on.

Hutberg and views

Hutberg is a basalt cone about 309 metres high in Schönau-Berzdorf. Its varied vegetation shapes the landscape. The hill is also home to traces of an old castle complex, a historic triangulation point and an open-air stage. Nature and history stand side by side here: the cone is a landscape feature, while the castle remains recall the site's former use.

Another vantage point is the observation tower on Neuberzdorfer Höhe. From there, the view extends over Schönau-Berzdorf, Lake Berzdorf and the surrounding landscape. You can reach the tower on foot, on a short hike or by bicycle. This gives you several ways to get there; a hike is just one option. The view from the tower places Schönau-Berzdorf and the lake in the context of the wider landscape, without requiring you to choose a particular type of route.

Local character and activities

Protected half-timbered and Umgebinde houses shape the architectural heritage of Schönau-Berzdorf and Kiesdorf. Both types of house are part of the traditional local landscape and represent the area's traditional architecture. Visitors interested in architecture will find a different focus here than on Hutberg: here, it is the built environment and its characteristic houses; there, the landscape, vegetation and historical traces.

In Kiesdorf and Schönau-Berzdorf, wildlife enclosures let you observe native animals at close range. You can combine a visit with walks in the surrounding area. This makes wildlife watching an activity in its own right, while also leaving room for a walk afterwards or as part of your visit.

Activities at Aktivhof Lindengut in Kiesdorf include llama and alpaca hikes, camel riding and farm tours. The farm shop also sells products made from alpaca wool. You can choose between a guided experience with animals, a tour of the farm and a look at the wool products on offer there. The activities appeal to different interests and need not be combined into a single offering.

The Blue Lagoon has a sandy beach, swimming facilities and a natural shoreline. You can walk along the shore or relax there; swimming is also one of the options. This spot complements the viewpoints and architectural heritage with a chance to spend time by the water. When planning, you can decide whether you are looking for views, a walk, wildlife watching, a farm visit or time at the beach.

Culture in the wider destination of Görlitz

The wider destination of Görlitz has its own cultural focus. The historic old town of Görlitz contains around 4,000 listed buildings and is one of the best-preserved historic ensembles in Central Europe. Its exceptional splendour and the visible wealth of the city are linked to the Via Regia, a historic European trade route. It once connected trading regions between Thuringia and Saxony in the west and Silesia, Bohemia and Poland in the east. This history belongs to Görlitz and does not describe the townscape of Schönau-Berzdorf.

The Schönhof is one example of Görlitz's architectural history: after a city fire, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style from 1526 onwards. Today, it is the main building of the Silesian Museum in Görlitz and is one of the oldest Renaissance buildings north of the Alps. St Peter's Church offers a different architectural accent: it is Saxony's largest hall church and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Its Sun Organ was built by Eugenio Casparini towards the end of the 17th century and can imitate birdsong. Renaissance and Gothic architecture thus offer different ways to explore the city's architectural history.

The Holy Sepulchre in Görlitz also represents a distinct chapter in the city's history. Built between 1481 and 1504, it is a replica of the holy sites of Jerusalem. The complex includes the Tomb Chapel, the Anointing Chapel and the Adam's Chapel; it is considered the oldest surviving structure of its kind north of the Alps. Together with the old town's listed buildings, this example shows the variety of historical themes in the wider destination of Görlitz.

Discover more destinations: Beiersdorf, Seifhennersdorf, Horka, Königshain, Kreba-Neudorf, Kodersdorf, Waldhufen, Kottmar.

View the wider travel guide: Görlitz.