Eibau combines distinctive architecture with annual festivals and opportunities for hiking. The Baroque village church, the Faktorenhof and the timber-framed and merchant houses typical of the region each shape a different facet of the townscape. There is also the Schwarzbierweg trail through the town and nearby Kottmar. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Eibau, you can plan your stay around architectural history, a festival date or outdoor activities.
Architectural heritage from the church tower to the Faktorenhof
Eibau’s Baroque village church was consecrated in 1707, after four years of construction; its tower was completed in 1710. The two dates mark different stages in its history. The townscape also features timber-framed and merchant houses, which are typical of the region and often display elements of rural Baroque architecture.
The restored Faktorenhof is an outstanding example. The Baroque three-sided farmstead comprises a manor house, barn and stable dating from 1717, and is considered one of the most valuable rural cultural monuments in Upper Lusatia. Its museum brings more than 660 years of Eibau’s history and its distinctive features to life. In Eibau, the history of sacred architecture and a historic farmstead complex thus offer two different ways to explore the town’s past.
On foot through the town and its surroundings
The Schwarzbierweg trail starts on Beckenberg and leads through Eibau past notable timber-framed and merchant houses. It reaches the Baroque village church via Beckenbergstraße and Kirchstraße. It’s a route with a specific destination for anyone who wants to combine architecture with a walk through the town. As trail conditions can change, check them before setting out.
For a different focus, 583-metre-high Kottmar lies nearby. Eibau’s residents call it their local mountain. It offers a hiking area with well-marked trails and viewpoints in all four cardinal directions. The contrast with the Schwarzbierweg is clear: one route passes historic houses through the town, while the other focuses on hiking trails and views.
Festivals with dates to mark on your calendar
The International Chainsaw Carving Meeting takes place every year on the Ascension Day weekend at Eibau’s Beckenberg. From Ascension Thursday through Sunday, the programme includes daily live chainsaw carving, a market with regional traders and craftspeople, and a varied programme of accompanying events. If you are travelling for the event, check the dates for that year; programme details may also change.
Another annual event is the Eibau Beer and Traditions Procession, held on the last Sunday in June every year since 1993. Horses pull festive floats with two, four or even six horses abreast. The floats depict historical scenes from Upper Lusatia’s history and beer production. The two events therefore offer different dates to plan around: the Ascension Day weekend and the last Sunday in June.
Cycling and bread baking
Faktorei 312 offers guided cycling tours through Upper Lusatia on roads that are almost entirely free of cars. If you would prefer an activity with a set appointment to a cycling tour, you can book a bread-baking session in the wood-fired oven by arrangement. These are ideally suited to groups of four to eight people. This caters to different interests: a guided tour of the region or baking bread together in a small group.
Discover more destinations: Obercunnersdorf.
Return to the main travel overview: Kottmar.
