national park
Saxon Switzerland National Park
A surreal landscape of eroded sandstone pillars, arches, and mesas along the Elbe, beloved by rock climbers and landscape painters.
34 km · about 40 min drive
Saxony, Germany · Europe
Bautzen sits on the route: 10 minutes from Doberschau, 34km from Saxon Switzerland National Park.
Bautzen is a town located in Saxony, Germany. With a population of 41,972, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Bautzen sits in Germany, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Berlin time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Bautzen to your route.
Bautzen (German pronunciation: [ˈbaʊtsn̩] ) or Budyšin (Upper Sorbian pronunciation: [ˈbudɨʃin] ), until 1868 Budissin in German, is a town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and the administrative centre of the district of Bautzen. It is located on the Spree river, is the eighth most populous town in Saxony, and is theRead more
seat of Saxony's largest district. Bautzen lies in the bilingual Sorbian settlement area (Serbski sydlenski rum) of Lusatia, and is Lusatia's third-largest town after Cottbus and Görlitz, as well as the second-largest town in Upper Lusatia.
The town lies in the hilly Upper Lusatian Gefilde (Hornjołužiske hona), a part of the northwesternmost foothills of the Sudetes, just north of the Lusatian Highlands. Bautzen is the first larger town on the Spree River (
Spree→
Havel→
Elbe→ North Sea), and the Bautzen Reservoir (Budyska rěčna zawěra) lies in the north of the town. In 2021, Bautzen had a population of around 38,000.
Although Görlitz is larger, it is Bautzen that is regarded as the historical capital of Upper Lusatia. Bautzen is the political and cultural center of the entirety of the Slavic minority of the Sorbs (Upper and Lower), although Lower Lusatia and the Lower Sorbian-speaking Sorbs have their own, second center, which is Cottbus. About 10 percent of Bautzen's population is Upper Sorbian-speaking. The use of the language is more widespread in the countryside surrounding the town than in the town itself. Bautzen is the seat of several Sorbian institutions like the Domowina, the German-Sorbian People's Theater (Němsko-Serbske ludowe dźiwadło), and Sorbian Broadcasting (Sorbischer Rundfunk, Serbski rozhłós).
From 1346 until 1815, the town was a member of the Lusatian League. The Bautzen Wenceslaus' Market (Bautzener Wenzelsmarkt, Upper Sorbian: Budyske Wjacławske wiki) is "Germany's oldest Christmas market mentioned in a chronicle". Asteroid 11580 Bautzen is named in honour of the city.
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Bautzen offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Bautzen is located in Saxony, Germany, Europe. The coordinates are 51.1803 latitude, 14.4349 longitude.
Bautzen has a population of approximately 41,972 people, making it a town in Germany.
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Essential numbers in Germany
ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.
Full driving guide for Germany8 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
A surreal landscape of eroded sandstone pillars, arches, and mesas along the Elbe, beloved by rock climbers and landscape painters.
34 km · about 40 min drive
national park
A mesmerizing landscape of deep gorges, towering sandstone pillars, and dense forests in the Czech-German borderlands along the Elbe River.
34 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
A spectacular sandstone bridge spanning jagged rock pillars 194 metres above the Elbe in Saxon Switzerland National Park.
35 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
The largest natural sandstone arch in Europe, standing majestically in the heart of Bohemian Switzerland National Park.
35 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Sandstone wonderland in the Czech Republic with Europe's largest natural stone arch and dramatic rock formations.
35 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Largest natural sandstone arch in Europe, the centrepiece of Bohemian Switzerland National Park, walked from car parks at Hrensko or Mezni Louka.
35 km · about 40 min drive
castle
A vast hilltop fortress on a sandstone plateau above the Elbe, with ramparts offering panoramic views over Saxon Switzerland.
39 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Germany's easternmost city, a stunningly preserved jumble of Gothic, Renaissance and baroque facades nicknamed 'Görliwood'.
39 km · about 45 min drive
April to October
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