'''Bautzen''' (Budy?in: Sorbian)[http://www.bautzen.de/] is an old city in Saxony, Germany. It is a well preserved medieval city and the cultural home of the German Sorbian community.

Get in

By train

The main station is within walking distance of the city centre and easily accessible by bus or car. Regular trains leave for Dresden and Gorlitz.

By car

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

Get around

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

See

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

Some examples:

  • The Reichenturm: One of the steepest leaning and still passable towers north of the Alps
  • Ortenburg Castle
  • The Old Waterworks: architectural monument and museum; landmark of Bautzen
  • Saint Peter's Cathedral: Germany's oldest and Eastern Germany's only historic interdenominational church edifice
  • Bautzen is the most important cultural center of the Sorbs, which make up 10% of the city population. You will find many places of Sorbian culture importance in the city. As a result the city uses bi-lingual signs with street names both in German and Sorbian.

    Kleinwelka is a subdivision of the city of Bautzen. There is the largest maze of Germany and a large Dinosaur-park.

    Do

  • Go on a tour through town or rest at romantic places, go into the museums (city museum or Sorbian museam) or go shopping
  • The city nestled in the heart of Upper Lusatia offers plenty of oportunities for memeroable hikes and day trips. The bioshere preserve "Upper Lusation Pond adn 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"
  • Bautzen has an important summer open air theater
  • street festival "Bautzener Fruhling"
  • Buy

  • Easter eggs
  • Bautz'ner Senf (mustard) - on of East Germanys most well known specialitys.
  • Eat

    Sorbian and traditional German-Lusatian cuisine.

    Drink

    Bautzen beer is only obtainable in few places in the city.

    Sleep

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

    Get out

  • Dresden
  • Gorlitz
  • Zittau
  • Upper Lusatian Highlands