Elstra lies within the Westlausitz Landscape Protection Area and is a starting point for extensive hiking and cycling tours in the region between Bischofswerda and Kamenz. In Prietitz, the Mammut Garden adds a dedicated garden attraction: covering 7 hectares, it brings together plants, aesthetics, leisure and family-oriented activities. You can therefore tailor your stay either more towards being active in the landscape or towards a garden experience. The cycle routes in the wider Bautzen District travel destination complement this local perspective with regional and long-distance routes.
Hiking and Cycling in the Westlausitz
Elstra’s location within the protected area and its role as a starting point make hiking and cycling tours a natural focus. The tours take you through the region between Bischofswerda and Kamenz. Paths in the surrounding area are also used for Nordic walking, jogging and mountain biking. This means that different kinds of activity are possible when planning your trip; you can choose an activity to suit your interests. Conditions on the paths may vary, so check your planned route before setting off on a longer tour.
The Mammut Garden in Prietitz
The Mammut Garden is located in the district of Prietitz. This garden experience covers 7 hectares and brings together plants, aesthetics and leisure, including family-oriented activities. The garden offers a different focus from a hiking or cycling tour, where the route itself takes centre stage. You can include it as a separate activity in your travel plans. Opening arrangements may vary: check the current visiting options before your visit.
Cycle Routes in the Wider Bautzen District Travel Destination
The wider Bautzen District travel destination offers cycling routes with different formats and themes. The Bautzen North Tour is a 43.1-kilometre circular route from Bautzen via Quatitz, Großdubrau, Milkel, Klix and Malschwitz and back to Bautzen. It passes through the heath and pond landscape and along the nature trail in Crosta. The Hills and Valleys Route is also a regional circular route; it runs through the Westlausitz Hills in Bautzen District. The Krabat Cycle Path is another regional circular route, following in the footsteps of Krabat, the hero of Sorbian legend. These three loops each have a different focus: heath and pond landscapes, hill country or the story of Krabat.
Two long-distance routes cover a different scale. 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; the section in Bautzen District is between Taubenheim and Zerre. For planning purposes, the practical distinction is between a circular route and a long-distance cycle route: the Bautzen North Tour, the Hills and Valleys Route and the Krabat Cycle Path are circular routes. The Central Route and the Spree Cycle Route each have a section in Bautzen District. You can first decide whether a loop or a section of a longer cycling trip better suits your plans.
A Cultural Perspective on Bautzen District
The Upper Lusatian Carnival offers a cultural point of reference in the wider Bautzen District travel destination. Its strongholds are in Schirgiswalde and Wittichenau. If you want to include regional traditions in your choice of destinations, you can consider this alongside the landscape and route options. This adds a recurring cultural point of reference to the picture of Bautzen District.
Plan Your Stay
The regional routes are a distinct focus for planning your trip. Once you know which experiences matter most to you, you can look for a holiday apartment for your stay and arrange the individual destinations accordingly. This gives you a choice of distinct focuses: a garden visit, outdoor activities in the Westlausitz and regional cycling routes.
Discover more destinations: Schönteichen, Schirgiswalde-Kirschau, Ohorn, Doberschau-Gaußig, Frankenthal, Göda, Radeberg, Pulsnitz
Return to the wider travel overview: Bautzen District.
