Reichenbach (Oberlausitz) — Napoleon In Upper Lusatia

Only a literary geek like myself would first think of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty when mentioning the name Reichenbach.

Yes, I’m aware his story took place at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland, and this one is in the Upper Lusatian region of Saxony (hence its epithet, Oberlausitz), but after today the German one might come first to the brain.

Known as Rychbach in Upper Sorbian, the town itself is a handful of hamlets in the Görlitz District, just a stone’s throw from Poland. And most recently, it had a new addition to when Sohland am Rotstein was incorporated on January 1, 2014.

Reichenbach’s latest addition added some primo sightseeing, including a windmill, the engineering marvel of its viaduct railway, its Dorfkirche (Village Church) from the 1840s, and the Rotstein — said to be the oldest nature reserve area in all of Saxony.

Another of Reichenbach’s villages is Zoblitz (a.k.a. Sobołsk), found on the former border marking Saxony and Prussia. These days the village is home to just over 200 people, but the chevron markings of its old border are still here.

Long before there was a Prussia, the medieval Via Regia once ran right on through. This “protected” highway, under order of the King, once ran through 5 countries of the Holy Roman Empire. For some reason the royally protected road wasn’t so important after Napoleon got his French tush kicked back to France — but it’s still nice to know you’re walking on a path once used by everyone from medieval peasants to Napoleon himself.

Oh, did I forget to mention his French troops fought the Russians here? Oops… ;-)

A number of places were here in Napoleon’s day, like the City Church Johannis. The original church was constructed in the 12th/13th centuries, but thanks to a fire the whole thing had to be rebuilt in 1670. And Castle Krobnitz was here, a graceful white Baroque mansion from the 18th century.

Ahh, yes, the Evangelical Church in the village of Meuselwitz was here in his day — come to think of it, it’s been here since 1424, almost four centuries before the French dude showed up. Too bad the Hussitentor and the town’s fortified walls from the 15th century didn’t keep him out.

Well, no time to think of that now — it’s off to the water park. Its 24 meter slide is a whole lotta fun, whereas the Fire Museum and Ackerbürgermuseum are educational.

It’s all right there’s no Sherlock to be found here in this Reichenbach, but with everything there is to do, you won’t notice.

 

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