Bautzen



Bautzen (Sorbian: Budyšin) is an old city in Saxony, Germany. It is a well preserved medieval city and the cultural center of the Sorbian community in Germany.

Understand
While an eastern Germanic settlement existed in the 3rd century AD and archaeology finds habitation back to the late Stone Age, the oldest written records date from 1002, when the Sorbian fortress of "Budusin" was mentioned as the centre of Upper Lusatia. One of the battlefields of the Napoleonic War Battle of Bautzen in 1813 and the World War II Battle of Bautzen, the town has at various times been part of Poland, Bohemia, Hungary, Saxony, Germany or East Germany.

Bautzen was infamous throughout East Germany for its penitentiaries. During World War II, a subcamp of the Groß-Rosen concentration camp operated in Bautzen; in Cold War Europe, Bautzen I was an official prison (which remains operational today) while the secret Bautzen II imprisoned prisoners of conscience. Since 1993, Bautzen II has served as a memorial.

Bautzen's medieval town centre is defended by a city wall on the steep embankment to the river Spree. St. Peter's Cathedral is Eastern Germany's only historic interdenominational church edifice; the Hexenhaus (Witch's House, built 1604) is the oldest preserved residential building. The Reichenturm is one of the steepest leaning towers north of the Alps to still be passable. The Old Waterworks (built 1558), an architectural monument and museum, is one of the oldest preserved waterworks in central Europe. Other sites of interest include Ortenburg Castle and four museums including the Stadtmuseum Bautzen ("Bautzen city Museum") and the Sorbisches Museum ("Sorbian Museum", Sorbian: Serbski muzej).

By car
Bautzen can be reached without problems by car from the rest of Germany. It is connected with the German highway system via motorway A4. The best way to get there is from Dresden.

By bus
Flixbus offers service to Berlin.

By plane
Besides flying into the close-by major airports of Dresden, Berlin or Prague  there is also a small general aviation airfield

Get around
The best way of getting around is on foot. The city center is compact. You can also easily use a bus or bicycle. If you got in by car, it is best to park it outside the city wall or at Schliebenstraße and walk.

See
Above all Bautzen is renowned for its historical town centre with its skyline of medieval towers.

Some examples:

Bautzen is the most important cultural center of the Sorbs, who make up 10% of the city population. You will find many places of Sorbian cultural importance in the city. As a result the city uses bilingual signs with street names both in German and Sorbian.

In the Kleinwelka subdivision of Bautzen, you can visit the largest maze of Germany.



Do

 * Go on a tour through town or rest at romantic places, go into the museums (city museum or Sorbian museum) or go shopping
 * Visit the notorious Stasi prison
 * The city nestled in the heart of Upper Lusatia offers plenty of opportunities for memeroable hikes and day trips. The biosphere preserve "Upper Lusation Pond and Heath Region" extends an area of 21,800 hectares with over 240 ponds. You can easily do day trips to the Upper Lusatian Highlands.
 * Do water sports at the Bautzen reservoir

Events
Bautzen is often called the "Easter capital". Sorbian and German customs, including famous processions during Easter, meet with a great deal of interest.

Easter events:
 * Easter eggs market (the Sorbian Easter eggs are known for their beauty and are made with special techniques)
 * Easter riding in Bautzen and the villages around
 * "Eierschieben"

Other events:
 * Wedding of the Birds ("Ptači kwas"; January 25th)
 * Bautzen has an important summer open air theater
 * street festival "Bautzener Frühling"

Buy

 * Easter eggs
 * Bautz'ner Senf (mustard) - one of East Germany's best-known specialities. In fact if people hear Bautzen, they usually think one of two things: the notorious Stasi prison - or mustard.

Eat
Sorbian and traditional German-Lusatian cuisine.

Drink
Bautzen beer is only obtainable in only a few places in the city, but it's worth trying.

Sleep
The Youth Hostel is in an old bastion. There are also some rooms of a hotel in another bastion. There are many other places to stay in Bautzen.

Go next

 * Dresden
 * Görlitz
 * Herrnhut