Through Krabat’s Sorbian Home

This bicycle tour goes through the traditional settlement area of the Sorbians, a Slavic people who have called the Lausitz region their home since the sixth century, and whose language and culture have been preserved to this day, and you can discover Sorbian culture and cuisine as you go. Museums and local history parlours along the route provide an authentic picture of the lives of past generations, and provide interesting information about customs, traditions and folk dress.  Craftspeople provide an insight into their work, and memorial sites commemorate key Sorbian figures. Perhaps the best-known legendary character is Krabat, a good Sorbian sorcerer, who is said to have learnt his trade in the Black Mill, today the Krabat-Mühle adventure farm. Here the legend of Krabat comes to life again in the original setting in Schwarzkollm. 

Length: 60 kilometres, or with a shortcut: 49 kilometres

Start/finish: Hoyerswerda central station, Bahnhofsallee 1 (Coordinates 51,432976, 14,231861)
Circular route via:  Seidewinkel – Bergen – Neuwiese – Nardt – Bröthen – Schwarzkollm – Bröthen – Michalken – Neudorf-Klösterlich – Wittichenau – Brischko– Neu-Buchwalde – Groß Särchen – Koblenz – Mortka – Lohsa – Knappenrode – Maukendorf – Zeißig

Trail conditions: This circular trail is mostly even and for the most part covers asphalted cycle paths and side roads with very little traffic. Some short segments of the tour cover gravel forest paths, but the trail remains firm.

Points of interest along the route:

• Trachtenhaus Jatzwauk in the old town of Hoyerswerda
• Sorbian Agricultural Museum in Bergen
• Pattoka chopped-wood barn in Bergen with glass and porcelain painting by Birgit Pattoka, exhibition on Sorbian customs, legends, Easter egg traditions
• Krabat village of Schwarzkollm: Village square with the Krabat Fountain and 12 Ravens, Krabat Column, Hegewald pottery workshop featuring Krabat products, Krabat-Mühle adventure farm
• Wittichenau: Krabat Fountain in the market square, parish church where the Croatian colonel Johann Schadowitz, also known as Krabat, was buried in 1704

Parking: Hoyerswerda central station, old town

Bicycle rental service: in Hoyerswerda and Lohsa, village district of Koblenz

Maps/Literature: Radwanderkarte Lausitzer Seenland, 1:50.000, Sachsen Kartographie, ISBN 978-3-86843-021-9, Euro 6.50