Discover Vierkirchen: Churches, Countryside and Pilgrimage Routes

Vierkirchen’s countryside, churches and pilgrimage routes offer different starting points for planning a trip. The attractions range from a walk along a stream to buildings with a clearly dated history and a pilgrimage route with specific stages. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether nature, church visits or pilgrimage will be the main focus of your trip.

Countryside and walks

The countryside around Vierkirchen is hilly, partly wooded and crossed by several streams. Arnsdorf lies on the western edge of the Königshain Hills. Buchholz has a palace park with old deciduous trees. West of Buchholz, a walk along a stream connects three ponds. If you would rather include a specific route in your plans than a general description of the countryside, this route description provides a practical starting point.

Churches and architectural history

Arnsdorf Church is a late Romanesque hall church founded in 1251. Its features include a painted wooden ceiling dating from the 16th century, a 15th-century crucifix and a Heinze organ from the 19th century. Today’s Melaune Church dates back to a comprehensive renovation in 1845. Behind the altar is a 1698 epitaph for Carl Gottlob von Nostitz. Arnsdorf thus brings together a medieval foundation and historic furnishings, while Melaune has a different profile: its 19th-century renovation and the older epitaph.

A palace was built in Arnsdorf in 1856. The former palace garden house is a two-storey Baroque building with a mansard roof and was restored in 2001. The stump of a Dutch windmill remains east of the church. Landkino hosts film screenings and other events in a former barn. As the programme may change, it is advisable to check the current schedule before visiting. Below Döbschütz, a former watermill is still operational as a grain-milling facility.

Pilgrimage routes and practical information

Paved roads, cycle paths, hiking trails and the Way of St James are available for exploring the church parishes. The Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route from Görlitz to Vacha passes through the parishes of Arnsdorf, Melaune and Buchholz. These parishes offer pilgrim hostels along the route all year round; check the current arrangements before setting out. Along the pilgrimage route, it is 18.5 km to Arnsdorf, a further 4.5 km to Melaune and another 4.5 km to the overnight accommodation in the rebuilt Old School. Check the current route signs before setting off.

The Arnsdorf rectory is a listed three-sided farmstead about 200 years old, used for pilgrim accommodation and parish gatherings. In Melaune, the former rectory houses a pilgrim hostel; the youth barn offers recreational activities for children and young people. Check current access arrangements before visiting.

The churches in Arnsdorf, Buchholz, Melaune, Tetta, Nieder Seifersdorf, Diehsa and Jänkendorf are generally open from Easter until the Sunday before Advent, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Check the opening hours before your trip.

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