Weißwasser/O.L.: Glass History and Forest Railway

A trip to Weißwasser/O.L. offers several distinct themes: the history of glass production, the forest railway museum and the Muskau Forest Railway, as well as recreational ice skating. If you are looking for a hotel, choosing a focus can be a practical starting point for planning your trip. The specific places and activities offer different ways to explore culture, technology and leisure.

Glass History in Weißwasser

The permanent exhibition at the Weißwasser Glass Museum presents 150 years of Lusatian glass and the intertwined development of glass production in Upper Lusatia and the history of the town of Weißwasser. Glass production and local history are thus part of a shared narrative. The museum is housed in a former industrialist's villa built in 1924. The museum's location and its subject therefore offer two distinct starting points for a visit.

The historical dates also illustrate the importance of the glass industry to Weißwasser: eleven glassworks were built there between 1872 and 1903. A later chapter is the work of Bauhaus student Wilhelm Wagenfeld, who was artistic director of Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke in Weißwasser from 1935 to 1947. The periods are easy to distinguish: the construction of the glassworks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was followed several decades later by Wagenfeld's time as director. Together, the history of the buildings and industry and Wagenfeld's work offer different perspectives on local glass culture.

Forest Railway and Technology

The forest railway museum offers a different technical perspective. The museum explains features such as the diamond-shaped chimney of its steam locomotive. This is a specific detail that lets you explore technical design, rather than understanding railway history only through routes or vehicles. The forest railway museum and visitor information centre are a two-minute walk from Weißwasser-Teichstraße station; it is also possible to travel by train. As station arrangements may change, check the directions before your trip if needed.

The Muskau Forest Railway is a 600 mm narrow-gauge railway connecting the park landscapes of Kromlau and Bad Muskau. The Muskau Forest Railway in Weißwasser is also one of the highlights of the UNESCO Muskau Arch Geopark. A terrace restaurant operated by the Muskau Forest Railway is located at Teichstraße station. If you are planning a ride, check the current timetable, as operating schedules may change.

Landscape and Leisure

The Muskau Arch around Bad Muskau is a glacial moraine landscape, shaped by lakes left behind by mining. In the UNESCO Muskau Arch Geopark, ten themed cycling and hiking trails provide access to the landscape. Both hiking and cycling are therefore represented as ways to explore it. When planning your trip, you can consider which type of exploration best suits your stay, without committing to a particular route.

The Weißwasser Ice Arena offers recreational ice skating with music for people who are not taking part in ice hockey. Public skating times may change, so check the current schedule if you are planning a visit. The ice arena also hosts events outside the ice-skating season, intended to appeal to visitors during this period. The programme may change, so if you are interested in a specific date, it is worth checking the current events calendar. Ice skating and events outside the ice-skating season are different occasions to consider when planning the timing of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Lawalde, Hainewalde, Gablenz, Schönbach, Leutersdorf, Markersdorf, Mittelherwigsdorf, Rosenbach

For the main travel overview: Görlitz.