Granite defines the character of Demitz-Thumitz. Guided visits to the Granite Village and along the Granite Route, a visit to the Old Stone Saw, and several hiking trails offer different ways to explore the town. There is also a tour that highlights the Granite Village, a railway viaduct and the surrounding landscape. When planning your trip, the main consideration is whether you want to base your plans on a guided visit with an approximate duration, a named trail section or a longer tour.
Guided visits and practical planning
For guided visits to the Granite Village and along the Granite Route, the village square is the meeting point. The route is easy and accessible; both visits take about two hours. At the Old Stone Saw, the visit includes a short talk, a film and a saw demonstration, and takes around 45 minutes. In terms of time, that means around 45 minutes compared with about two hours—a useful distinction when planning how much time to set aside for your activities.
The published schedule varies by season and may change. Advance registration is possible for other dates. So coordinate your preferred visit with the seasonal schedule. The Old Stone Saw also has a free e-bike charging station, which is available during the sawmill’s opening hours. As availability may change, it is best to check this option in advance.
Hiking trails and a themed tour
Several hiking trails pass through Demitz-Thumitz. The Upper Lusatian Mountain Trail follows part of the local Granite Route. The Northern Ridge Trail includes a 35-kilometre section between Demitz-Thumitz and Kleindehsa. The Saxon Way of St. James passes through the town; there is a stamp station at Christ Church.
The trail information highlights different features: the Upper Lusatian Mountain Trail is noted for its connection to the Granite Route, the Northern Ridge Trail for the length of a specific section, and the Saxon Way of St. James for its route through the town and a named stamp station. The routes themselves are permanent, but signage and local regulations may change. Take these points into account when planning your route.
Another tour associated with Demitz-Thumitz is 15.9 kilometres long and highlights the Granite Village, the railway viaduct and the surrounding landscape. This adds local and landscape features as selection criteria alongside the named hiking trails. The published tour length may change if the route is adjusted. If the distance is important to your plans, check the current route information.
Bautzen District: more route profiles
Tours with other landscapes and route profiles also run through Bautzen District. The Northern Bautzen Tour is a 43.1-kilometre cycling tour from Bautzen via Quatitz, GroĂźdubrau, Milkel, Klix and Malschwitz, returning to Bautzen. It passes through heathland and pond landscapes and along the nature trail in Crosta. The Hill and Dale Route is a regional circular tour through the West Lusatian Hills in Bautzen District. The Krabat Cycle Route is also a regional circular tour in Bautzen District, following in the footsteps of Krabat, the hero of Sorbian legend.
Other routes extend beyond the district: the Central Route is a long-distance cycle route from Zittau to Aachen; one section runs through the Upper Lusatian Highlands in Bautzen District. The Spree Cycle Route runs from its source in Upper Lusatia to Berlin. Its section between Taubenheim and Zerre lies in Bautzen District. This means that alongside local trails, Bautzen District offers circular tours and sections of longer routes.
Discover more destinations: OĂźling, Schirgiswalde-Kirschau, Kamenz, Elsterheide, Hoyerswerda, KubschĂĽtz, Guttau, GroĂźnaundorf
Back to the regional travel overview: Bautzen District.
