Waldhufen: Reservoir, Cycling Route and Churches

Waldhufen lies between the Königshain Hills and the forest- and pond-rich Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape. The surrounding area is characterized mainly by gentle hills. Near Jänkendorf and Diehsa, Waldhufen reaches the banks of the Quitzdorf Reservoir, where the Schwarzer Schöps is dammed. This brings the hilly countryside and the water together; cycling and churches add specific themes to the landscape for a stay. Visitors choosing Waldhufen can focus on nature, a cycling tour or the architectural history of individual churches.

Landscape and Places

Thiemendorf lies north of Hochstein in a two-kilometre-long valley in the Königshain Hills. The valley adds a specific landscape feature to the general description of the surrounding area’s gentle hills. Near Jänkendorf and Diehsa, the reservoir adds another local feature. Different aspects thus sit side by side: the valley at Thiemendorf and the reservoir, which Waldhufen reaches near Jänkendorf and Diehsa.

Cycling Around the Quitzdorf Reservoir

A 20-kilometre cycling tour around the Quitzdorf Reservoir heads towards Diehsa. Stops along the way include a protected market square ensemble, the Gewandhaus with a small park, and a cycling church. The route thus connects the reservoir landscape with specific architectural and local features. You can easily decide what to focus on when planning your trip: the tour brings several stops together in one loop, while the churches also offer interesting insights through their architectural history.

The church in Diehsa is considered the first Lower Silesian cycling church on the signposted Froschradweg. It is open from May to October and offers a range of services for cyclists, tourists and other visitors. As opening hours are seasonal, check them locally before your ride. There is a drinking water fountain next to the church; the neighbouring inn on the market square serves food and offers bicycle repair kits. If you are relying on a meal or a repair kit, it is advisable to check availability in advance.

Churches and Architectural History

The Church of St Ursula and St Gallus in Nieder Seifersdorf is a Romanesque fortified church dating from the 13th century, surrounded by a substantial wall. Together with the rectory, barns and defensive walls, it forms a medieval ensemble. Late Gothic paintings have been preserved inside; a painted gallery on one and two levels depicts biblical scenes. Here, the fortified character of the ensemble meets the preserved artistic features inside the church.

The church in Ullersdorf acquired its present Renaissance appearance around 1629/1630. Compared with the Romanesque fortified church in Nieder Seifersdorf, two different architectural emphases stand out: there, the ensemble of church, wall and other buildings, as well as the paintings; here, the Renaissance design. This comparison gives travellers interested in culture a concrete insight into the different architectural forms and historical features of the churches in Waldhufen.

Discover more destinations: Schöpstal, Kottmar, Vierkirchen, Ostritz, Weißkeißel, Zittau, Olbersdorf, Gablenz.

For the broader travel overview: Görlitz.