You can’t go any further east than right here in Rothenburg (Oberlausitz) in Saxony, and still remain in Germany. That’s right, you go one more foot to the east and you’re in Poland, my friends.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with our eastern neighbor — but don’t leave, because you’ll miss out on quite a number of things to do.
While technically not withing Rothenburg, you won’t want to miss out on the Wolfsradweg, a scenic route that’s all about the poor misunderstood wolf. The route (which is only about 13 km / 8 miles from here) runs some 43.3 kilometers with info boards detailing the life, social structure, misconceptions and legends of these awesome creatures. It’s best done by bicycle — all the better to escape the real wolves that call Upper Lusatia home. ;-)
As far as the natural side of Rothenburg itself, look no further than the Bird Park, called Vogelpark Kunschmann. Some 45 different species of birds call it home, and you’ll find everything from the common chicken to totally exotic birds.
Your acquaintance with animals doesn’t end here, the bison enclosure is good for learning about these humongous animals. Too much Discovery Channel stuff for you? No worries, take a more tame horse riding lesson instead.
And there’s always the option of hiking around one of the town’s marked trails. They have great names, like the Froschradweg (Frog Cycle Trail) or Biehainer-Seen-Tour (Biehain Lake Tour). Don’t be afraid to ask the folks at Rothenburg’s Tourist Office (located at Marktplatz 1) for a map.
I’m pretty sure they’ll tell you to visit the Aviation Museum at the nearby airfield. Anyone who loves flying will appreciate seeing some fifteen different aircraft, including a helicopter and MiG21. The other museum in Rothenburg is its Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum), filled with hundreds of years of the town’s history.
In addition to all this running around the Upper Lusatian countryside, you’ve got festivals too. The Summer Festival is one of the biggest events of the year, but who doesn’t love a quaint Christmas Market?
Didn’t I tell you there were quite a number of things to do here? And there’s still so much more to see in Germany, so don’t cross into Poland yet. ;-)
