Hoyerswerda City Festival
A large city festival on Lausitzer Platz, held annually on the second September weekend from Friday to Sunday. With over 25 hours of live programme, free admission and a grand closing fireworks display; running since 2001.
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Hoyerswerda
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ℹ️Practical info — Hoyerswerda
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Learn a few Sorbian greetings; bilingual signs are everywhere and locals highly appreciate the interest in their culture.
- Rent a bike; the striking Lusatian Lake District is highly accessible right from the city via well-paved, flat cycling trails.
- Check local event calendars for traditional Sorbian festivals, the regional Easter customs are particularly spectacular.
- Parking in the modern city center (Neustadt) is generally much easier and cheaper than in the historic Old Town.
🍽 Food
🍽
Quark with Linseed Oil and Potatoes
A healthy, classic Sorbian dish that you can find in almost every traditional tavern in the region.
🍽
Sorbian Wedding Soup
Try this hearty, rich broth as an appetizer in one of the cozy restaurants located in the Old Town.
🍽
Plins
A local type of pancake, usually served with applesauce or cinnamon sugar-first-rate for a sweet afternoon snack.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
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Sorbian Easter Eggs
Intricately decorated eggs are the most famous local handicraft, available in specialized regional souvenir shops.
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Lusatian Glass
Look for high-quality, locally produced glassware and ornaments in boutiques in the city center.
🧘
Castle Park
Take a peaceful walk through the spacious, green park surrounding the Hoyerswerda Castle.
🧘
Geierswalder See shores
Cycle just outside the city to relax on the tranquil shores of this lake, created from a former open-cast mine.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
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Hoyerswerda is a fascinating city of transformation, located in the heart of Upper Lusatia and serving as the primary gateway to the spectacular Lusatian Lake District (Lausitzer Seenland). Once heavily dominated by open-cast brown coal mining, the city has reinvented itself into a bustling center for culture and modern recreation. The massive former mining pits surrounding the city have been deliberately flooded to create Europe’s largest artificial water landscape, turning the region into a paradise for sailing, cycling, and beach lovers. In the appealing Old Town, visitors can explore the historic Hoyerswerda Castle, which houses the city museum and is surrounded by an idyllic zoo that is a hit with families. The city is deeply proud of its most famous former resident, Konrad Zuse, the inventor of the world’s first programmable computer. The dedicated Zuse Computer Museum gives a captivating journey into the dawn of the digital age. Furthermore, Hoyerswerda is an important hub for the indigenous Sorbian culture; bilingual street signs and animated local folklore are woven into daily life. The wide boulevards of the New Town, built as a socialist model city, provide a unique architectural contrast, making Hoyerswerda a truly unique destination.
- Location: Saxony, Germany
- Top sights: Hoyerswerda Castle · Zuse Computer Museum (ZCOM) · Hoyerswerda Zoo
- Nearby: Wittichenau (6 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Rain mm | 56 | 38 | 43 | 32 | 56 | 61 | 83 | 68 | 52 | 50 | 54 | 51 |
Live webcam – Hoyerswerda
See what it looks like near Hoyerswerda right now.
Hoyerswerda - Wojerecy › South · 1.2 km · Open webcam on Windy · Webcams provided by Windy.com
Geography
Facts
- Lusatian Lake District
- Konrad Zuse (School)
- Hoyerswerda Castle
- Krabat region
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
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A day in the city
Pick weather + travel mode, get a concrete day plan.
09:00→15:182 km walk6 places0/6
Day budget: ≈ 19–25 €Entries 22€ · Transport 0€
The day begins at the historic market square of the Old Town, surrounded by renovated townhouses. After visiting the old St. John's Church, the path leads to the imposing castle, which preserves the city's history. At noon, you explore the directly adjacent zoo. The afternoon is dedicated to the New Town with the Lausitz-Center and the fascinating Zuse Computer Museum, commemorating pioneer Konrad Zuse.
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🚶 6'0.13 km
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🚶 11'0.41 km
09:00→16:066.5 km ride7 places0/7
Day budget: ≈ 32–44 €Entries 26€ · Transport 12€
This bike tour connects the historic Old Town with the modern New Town and the Lausitzbad recreation area. We start at the market square, visit the zoo, and then cycle to Lausitzbad for relaxation. In the afternoon, we explore the computer museum and the Lausitz-Center before cycling back to the castle via St. John's Church, where the tour ends comfortably.
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📍
09:10 · 47'
Marktplatz Altstadt
Well-suited starting point for a bike tour through the city.
🚲 6'0.49 km
🚲 15'1.96 km
🚲 19'2.64 km
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🚲 4'0.23 km
09:00→15:2614.5 km drive6 places0/6
Day budget: ≈ 23–31 €Entries 24€ · Transport 3€
By car, we explore Hoyerswerda and the mystical Krabat Mill in nearby Schwarzkollm. We start in the Old Town, parking centrally for the castle and zoo. Then we head to the New Town for the Zuse museum and shopping. The grand finale is a visit to the Krabat Mill, where the Sorbian legend comes to life.
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🚗 4'0.3 km
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🚗 8'1.44 km
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🚗 44'12.2 km
Sights in the town Hoyerswerda (11)
Frequently asked questions
Who was Konrad Zuse and what is his connection to Hoyerswerda?
Konrad Zuse, the inventor of the computer, lived in Hoyerswerda. The Zuse Computer Museum (ZCOM) showcases his work and historical computing technology.
What does the Hoyerswerda Zoo offer?
The zoo is located right next to the castle and houses over 100 animal species. The tropical house and the bear enclosure are especially popular.
Is there a castle in Hoyerswerda?
Yes, Hoyerswerda Castle is the oldest building in the city. It now houses the city museum and a cafe.
What is the Lusatian Lake District?
Hoyerswerda is located in a reclaimed mining landscape that is becoming Europe's largest man-made lake district, excellent for swimming and cycling.
How does the Old Town differ from the New Town?
The Old Town is historic, while the New Town was created as a socialist model city for mining workers with many prefabricated buildings.
Hoyerswerda: where is it located?
Hoyerswerda is located in Saxony, Germany.
Hoyerswerda: what is there to see?
Highlights include Hoyerswerda Castle, Zuse Computer Museum (ZCOM), Hoyerswerda Zoo.
Hoyerswerda: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Hoyerswerda: why is it worth visiting?
Hoyerswerda is a fascinating city of transformation, located in the heart of Upper Lusatia and serving as the primary gateway to the spectacular Lusatian Lake District (Lausitzer Seenland).
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