| Bautzen | |
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| Information | |
| Country | Germany |
| Region | Saxony |
| Surface | 66.62 km² |
| Population | 39 400 |
| Area code | 03591, 035935 |
| Postal Code | 02625 |
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Bautzen - county town in Germany, in the eastern part of the federal state Saxony, in the administrative district of Dresden, seat of the district of Bautzen, on the river Spree.
Characteristic
While an East Germanic settlement existed in the 3rd century AD, and archeology found its home until the late Stone Age, the oldest records date back to 1002, when the Sorbian fortress "Budusin" was mentioned as the center of Upper Lusatia. One of the battlefields of the Napoleonic war near Bautzen in 1813 and the battle of Bautzen during World War II, the city was part of the Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Saxony, Germany or East Germany.
Bautzen was infamous throughout East Germany for its prisons. During World War II, there was a sub-camp of the Groß-Rosen concentration camp in Bautzen; in the cold war in Europe, Bautzen I was an official prison (which is still in operation today), while the secret Bautzen II imprisoned prisoners of conscience. Since 1993, Bautzen II has served as a monument.
The medieval center of Bautzen is protected by city walls on a steep embankment to the Spree. St. Peter's Square is the only historic interdenominational church building in East Germany; The Hexenhaus (The House of Witches, built in 1604) is the oldest surviving residential building. The Reichenturm is one of the steepest sloping towers north of the Alps that is still passable. The old waterworks (built in 1558), an architectural monument and museum, is one of the oldest surviving waterworks in Central Europe. Other places of interest include the Ortenburg Castle and four museums, including the Stadtmuseum Bautzen ("Bautzen City Museum") and the Sorbisches Museum ("Lusatian Museum", Lusatian: Serbian muse).
Drive
By plane
In addition to arriving at major airports in Dresden (DRS), Of Berlin (BER), Wrocław (WRO) or Prague (PRG) is also home to a small general aviation airport
- 1 Flugplatz Bautzen
By rail
- 2 Bautzen railway station. The main station is within walking distance of the city center and can be easily reached by bus or car. Regular trains depart to Dresden and Görlitz.
By car
Bautzen is easily accessible by car from the rest of Germany. It is connected to the German motorway system via the A4 motorway. The best way to get there is with Dresden or from the side Polish (A4 motorway from Wroclaw).
By bus
Flixbus offers services for Of Berlin.
Communication
The best way to get around the city is on foot. The city center is compact. You can also easily use the bus or bike. If you got in the car it is best to park it outside the city walls or on Schliebenstraße and walk.
Worth seeing
First of all, Bautzen is famous for its historic city center with a panorama of medieval towers.
Some examples:
- 1 Reichenturm, at the end of Reichenstraße (on the eastern edge of the old town). Open April-October. One of the steepest and still passable towers north of the Alps stands on the Kornmarkt, opposite the Liebfrauenkirche.
- 2 Ortenburg Castle. The 10th-century castle in the Old Town of Bautzen on a rocky plateau overlooking the river Spree.
- Hexenhaus, Vor der Fischerpforte. Hexenhäusel (aka Hexenhäuschen or Hexenhäusl) is one of the oldest residential buildings in Bautzen. Former fishing house built before 1604. It survived the great fire in 1634, which caused great destruction in the town; it also survived subsequent fires and wars. According to popular knowledge, the house was supposed to withstand all fires because it was protected by a gypsy spell. The characteristic historic building, widely depicted on postcards around 1900, reconstructed in 1959/60, features old-style wooden shingles and wooden gutters.
- 3 Old Waterworks (Alte Wasserkunst). Architecture monument and museum; landmark in Bautzen.
- 4 St. Peter's Cathedral. The oldest historic interfaith church in Germany and the only one in East Germany. The tower is passable, take the door on the west side.
Bautzen is the most important cultural center of the Sorbs, who constitute 10% of the city's population. In the city you will find many places of Sorbian cultural importance. As a result, the city uses bilingual signs with street names in both German and Sorbian.
In the Kleinwelka district of Bautzen you can visit the largest labyrinth in Germany.
- 5 Saurierpark Kleinwelka.
- 6 Monument to Bautzen, Weigangstraße 8a, 49 3591-40474, fax: 49 3591-40475. Mon-Thu 10: 00-16: 00, Fri 10: 00-20: 00, Sat Sun 10: 00-18: 00. In the former prison, Stasi Bautzen II commemorates the victims imprisoned in prisons in Bautzen in inhuman conditions during the Soviet occupation and communist dictatorship. See the detention cells, isolation area, exercise yards, and permanent exhibitions documenting the suffering of the victims and the political and historical context. Free guided public tours Fri 17:00, Sat. 11:00 and 14:00. Individual guided tours € 60 (in English € 70) by arrangement.
- 7 Sorbisches Museum, Ortenburg 3 (in Castle Ortenburg), ☏ 49 3591-270870-0, fax: 49 3591-270870-13. Tue-Sun 10: 00-18: 00. Sorbian trade and traditional clothes, music and religious faith, history of settlement and contemporary art. € 2.50.
- 8 Bautzen Museum.
It's worth doing
- Take a city tour or relax in romantic places, enter museums (city museum or Lusatian museum) or go shopping
- Visit the famous Stasi prison
- The city, located in the heart of Upper Lusatia, offers many opportunities for unforgettable excursions and hikes. The biosphere reserve "Upper Pond and Heath Region" covers an area of 21,800 hectares with over 240 ponds. You can easily make day trips to Upper Lusatia.
- Do water sports in the Bautzen reservoir
work
Science
Shopping
- Easter eggs
- Bautz'ner Senf (mustard) - one of the most famous specialties in East Germany. In fact, if people hear Bautzen, they usually think of one of two things: the famous Stasi prison - or mustard.
Gastronomy
Sorbian and traditional German-Sorbian cuisine.
- Mönchshof, Burglehn 1, 49 3591 490141. Medieval-style restaurant with occasional live music. Website in German and English. € 10-15 for the main course.
- Wjelbik, Kornstraße 7, ☏ 49 3591 42060. Lusatian restaurant with traditional cuisine. 15-20 € for the main course.
Bautzen beer is only available in a few places in the city, but it's worth a try.
Festivals, parties
Bautzen is often called the "Easter capital". Serbian and German customs, including the famous Easter processions, are met with great interest.
Easter events:
- Easter egg market (Sorbian Easter eggs are known for their beauty and are made with special techniques)
- Easter ride in Bautzen and surrounding villages
- "Eierschieben"
Other events:
- Wedding of the birds ("Ptači kvass"; January 25)
- Bautzen has an important summer theater
- street festival "Bautzener Frühling"
Accommodation
The youth hostel is located in the old bastion. There are also hotel rooms in another bastion. There are many other places to stay in Bautzen.
Cheaply
- Hotel Alte Gerberei, Uferwerg1, 49 3591 272390, ✉ [email protected]. Breakfast is included in all room rates. The hotel is close to the river. Single from € 54, double from € 74.
- Spreepension Bautzen, Fischergasse 6 (further city center), 49 3591 48960, fax: 49 3591 489644, ✉ [email protected].
- Pension Am Schloss, Schlossstr. 11 (Old Town), 49 3591 40921, fax: 49 3591 40921.
- Pension Stephan, Schlossstr. 1 (inner city center), 49 3591 47590, fax: 49 3591 47591, ✉ [email protected].
Moderate
- Pension Dom-Eck, Breitengasse 2 (city center), ☏ 49 3591 501330, fax: 49 3591 501334, ✉ [email protected].
- Pension Schloss-Schänke (Old Town), 49 3591 304990, fax: 49 3591 490198, ✉ [email protected].
- Best Western Plus, Wendischer Graben 20 (city center), 49 3591 492-0, fax: 49 3591 492100.
Expensive
- Hotel Goldener Adler, Hauptmarkt 4 (Old Town), 49 3591 48660, fax: 49 3591 486620, ✉ [email protected]
contact
Security
Tourist information
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