Of favorite places and favorite routes

Actually, the participants in our Christmas giveaway just wanted to win the nature calendar featuring Tom Heinke’s most beautiful photos of Upper Lusatia. And we simply wanted to spread some pre-Christmas cheer. “Where’s your favorite spot in Upper Lusatia?” we asked on Instagram, Facebook, and the website of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. We expected a few comments, a few “likes” and “hearts,” along with “Good idea” or “I’ve always wanted that calendar.” And, of course, there were a total of 15 lucky winners. But we never could have imagined that we, too, would win something.

We received over 50 beautiful declarations of love for Upper Lusatia. There were a few places that hardly anyone in the Public Relations Office had ever heard of. Perhaps because they’re not really visible and remain hidden from most people. Like Nelle Räwob’s garden. She writes: “My favorite spot in Upper Lusatia is under the willow tree in our garden in ‘Schimmch,’ Schönbach—simply wonderful in the summer.” For Thomas Amhaus, his favorite spot is right on his doorstep: “The Knorrberg in Dittersbach auf dem Eigen.”

And Upper Lusatia is vast, as Laura commented on Instagram: “My favorite spot is the Berghäusel on the Löbauer Berg. From there, the world seems so peaceful, and when the weather is good, you can see so far!” Hagen Hoffmann finds “the forest in Spitzkunnersdorf” the most beautiful. And Lena Gawalski writes: “Of what I’ve seen so far, my favorite place in Upper Lusatia is the nature reserve around Niederspree Castle near Hähnichen, where there are many wonderful lakes and a very tranquil landscape.” Arlene Gärtner, a master’s student in tourism from Görlitz, commented: “For me, as a newcomer, the most beautiful spot—which many will probably mention—is the Landeskrone. From here, you have a fantastic view of the countryside and the city of Görlitz. Just the hike up through the quaint forest is a highlight. Once you’re at the top, you feel carefree and can clear your head so there’s room for new knowledge.” Dear Arlene, that’s clearly your very own favorite spot—you’re almost the only one who mentioned the Landeskrone!

The 30 female and 21 male participants in the contest didn’t just list favorite places: “My favorite place isn’t a place, but a trail—specifically, the one from the Schwarzwasser spring in Jonsdorf toward Felsenstadt. Past the wonderful rock formations,” writes Marilen S. on Instagram. For Birgit Bittner, it’s “the forest in Niederoybin along Leipaerstraße,” and for Tom Roethig, “the Alpine Trail in Jonsdorf.” Christian Vogel commented: “Not a place, but rather a route. Taking the narrow-gauge railroad from Zittau to Oybin!” Andre Neutag also likes “the entire Oder-Neisse Bike Path between Görlitz and Zittau, with a stop along the way in Ostritz and its monastery.”

Many couldn’t decide on just one place, like Stefan Schulz: “Napoleon’s Linden Tree and the Fuchskanzel. Both are absolutely beautiful,” and Annett Jähnichen: “The Töpfer or the Hochwald Tower.” Since Lukas Vesey loves to hike, he naturally has many favorite spots in Upper Lusatia. “But my personal favorite spot is the Lausche. It’s exciting every single time—especially in the morning when it’s still dark—to hike up there to catch the sunrise and the golden hour and just relax for a while.”
Max Eckhart could “look down from the Töpfer for hours at Upper Lusatia—it’s like looking at a model-making board.” Paul Wagner loves “the sun terrace at the Hochwaldbaude,” and Sylvia Wackernagel “the artists’ quarter in Zittau.” Gerlinde Kretschmar and Simone Kunze may even have met at the Lausche before—after all, it’s both of their favorite spot: “The Lausche, especially the view over the Zittau Mountains and the Bohemian hills with their many volcanic cones,” writes Gerlinde Kretschmar, and Simone Kunze adds: “The Lausche, because from there you have a sweeping panoramic view all the way to Löbau, Görlitz, Liberec, and across the cones of the neighboring Czech mountains.”

What almost all the comments have in common is a love for their homeland and gratitude for living amid such beautiful nature. Is there a better gift for Christmas? Thank you so much for all your comments—maybe your favorite spots will soon become many people’s favorite spots.

Text: Sophie Herwig