Zittau
Encyclopedia
Zittau is a city in the south east of the Free State of Saxony, Germany
, close to the border tripoint
of Germany, Poland
, and the Czech Republic
. , there are 28,638 people in the city. It is part of the Görlitz
district.
The inner city of Zittau still shows its original beauty with many houses from several periods of German architecture. There is the famous town hall built in an Italian style, the church of St. John and the stables (Salzhaus) with its medieval heritage. This multi-storied building is one of the oldest of its kind in Germany
.
Zittau was one of the six members of the Six-City League of Upper Lusatia. At that time the city was granted a special title - it was called "Die Reiche" ("the Rich") because of its high proportion of well-to-do citizens.
During the Counterreformation and after 1620 after the battle at Weisser Berg (White Mountain) a large number of Protestant refugees from Bohemia (böhmische Exulanten) came to Zittau, where the Protestant Saxon rulers took them in. Many of them went on and found refuge in surrounding villages, in Dresden and in Berlin in Brandenburg. Primarily due to near-complete destruction caused by the Seven Years' War
the former prosperous era of the city is only reflected in a few exceptional buildings and the cemeteries where the well-to-do were buried.
One of the most important trading goods of this early age in the 16th century was beer. Later in the 18th and 19th century textiles became important too, a tradition common in the region of Upper-Lusatia
. During World War II
, a labour camp
was located in the city. It provided forced labour for Schoenmann Werke, an aircraft parts manufacturer.
After the reunification in 1990 most of the big textile firms that survived the time of the GDR almost without any changes and any further investment closed down in just a few years. The city lost most of its economical strength. In addition, lignite
surface mining
was discontinued on the outskirts of the city in the foothills of the Zittau Mountains, while it still goes on across the border in Poland. This, however, has saved parts of the city from certain destruction, which are still primarily now dormant military garrisons and schools. The city is also disadvantaged by the cheaper labour from neighbouring countries.
and Görlitz
is planned.
and Cottbus
where connections can be made to 'Dresden
and the rest of Germany. Zittau is also on the Löbau–Zittau railway which was originally opened in 1848, making it one of the oldest railways in Germany. The Zittau–Oybin–Jonsdorf railway is a heritage narrow gauge railway taking passengers from Zittau to the mountain spa resort towns of Oybin
and Jonsdorf
in the Zittau Mountains. It is operated by Saxon Oberlausitz Railway Company
.
Zittau is located near the tripoint where the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland meet and there are several border checkpoints between the three countries. Immigration and customs checks have however been removed since December 21, 2007, when all three became part of the Schengen Area
.
Zittau is the only city along the Oder-Neisse line
where six existing border bridges connecting Germany and Poland are still closed although both countries are members of the Schengen area.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, close to the border tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
of Germany, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. , there are 28,638 people in the city. It is part of the Görlitz
Görlitz (district)
Görlitz is a district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is named after its capital city Görlitz. It borders the district of Bautzen, the state Brandenburg, Poland and the Czech Republic.- History :...
district.
The inner city of Zittau still shows its original beauty with many houses from several periods of German architecture. There is the famous town hall built in an Italian style, the church of St. John and the stables (Salzhaus) with its medieval heritage. This multi-storied building is one of the oldest of its kind in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
History
During the Counterreformation and after 1620 after the battle at Weisser Berg (White Mountain) a large number of Protestant refugees from Bohemia (böhmische Exulanten) came to Zittau, where the Protestant Saxon rulers took them in. Many of them went on and found refuge in surrounding villages, in Dresden and in Berlin in Brandenburg. Primarily due to near-complete destruction caused by the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
the former prosperous era of the city is only reflected in a few exceptional buildings and the cemeteries where the well-to-do were buried.
One of the most important trading goods of this early age in the 16th century was beer. Later in the 18th and 19th century textiles became important too, a tradition common in the region of Upper-Lusatia
Lusatia
Lusatia is a historical region in Central Europe. It stretches from the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers in the east to the Elbe valley in the west, today located within the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg as well as in the Lower Silesian and Lubusz voivodeships of western Poland...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a labour camp
Arbeitslager
Arbeitslager is a German language word which means labor camp.The German government under Nazism used forced labor extensively, starting in the 1930s but most especially during World War II....
was located in the city. It provided forced labour for Schoenmann Werke, an aircraft parts manufacturer.
After the reunification in 1990 most of the big textile firms that survived the time of the GDR almost without any changes and any further investment closed down in just a few years. The city lost most of its economical strength. In addition, lignite
Lignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
surface mining
Surface mining
Surface mining , is a type of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit are removed...
was discontinued on the outskirts of the city in the foothills of the Zittau Mountains, while it still goes on across the border in Poland. This, however, has saved parts of the city from certain destruction, which are still primarily now dormant military garrisons and schools. The city is also disadvantaged by the cheaper labour from neighbouring countries.
Main sights
- Church of our Lady - A semi-gothic church that is first mentioned in 1355.
- City Hall - Designed by Karl Friedrich SchinkelKarl Friedrich SchinkelKarl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
and built in Italian-pallazo style between 1840 and 1845 - Flower Clock - A notable Zittau attraction, the flower clock was built in 1907 from a clockwork of an old Tower clock and contains approximately 4800 plants planted three times annually.
- Friary Church - It was the church of the Franciscan Monastery. Their high altar was sacred to the apostles Peter and Paulus in 1293. The main aisle dates from 1480 and was built in the style of late gothic. In the years 1696, 1731 and 1748 prayer rooms were built on the south side of the church. These were special seating areas for wealthy citizens.
- Markt - The main central square
- St. John's Church - Originally built in 1230 in the Romanesque style of the Order of St. John, whose patron saint was John the BaptistJohn the BaptistJohn the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
. It was later dedicated also to John the EvangelistJohn the EvangelistSaint John the Evangelist is the conventional name for the author of the Gospel of John...
. The building was destroyed in 1757 by Austrian soldiers during the Seven Years' War. The current building was built between 1766 and 1837.
Culture
There are roughly 3,500 students studying at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and at the independent International Graduate School, Germany's smallest university catering to students from nearby Poland and the Czech Republic.Road
Because of its still outstanding connection to good infrastructure the city still suffers, but a direct connection to the nearest motorway between BautzenBautzen
Bautzen is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and administrative centre of the eponymous district. It is located on the Spree River. As of 2008, its population is 41,161...
and Görlitz
Görlitz
Görlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
is planned.
Rail
Zittau is served by the regional Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn GmbH (ODEG) which connects Zittau to GörlitzGörlitz
Görlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
and Cottbus
Cottbus
Cottbus is a city in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around southeast of Berlin, on the River Spree. As of , its population was .- History :...
where connections can be made to 'Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
and the rest of Germany. Zittau is also on the Löbau–Zittau railway which was originally opened in 1848, making it one of the oldest railways in Germany. The Zittau–Oybin–Jonsdorf railway is a heritage narrow gauge railway taking passengers from Zittau to the mountain spa resort towns of Oybin
Oybin
Oybin is a municipality in the district Görlitz, in Saxony, Germany, located very close to the border of the Czech Republic. Following the defeat of the Protestant armies by the Habsburgs in the Battle of the White Mountain in 1620, many Protestant Czechs found refuge across the border in the...
and Jonsdorf
Jonsdorf
The community of Jonsdorf is located in the south of the Kreis Görlitz in the southeast of the German federal state of Saxony. It is embedded into a valley of the Zittau Mountains, part of the Lusatian Mountains.-History:...
in the Zittau Mountains. It is operated by Saxon Oberlausitz Railway Company
Saxon Oberlausitz Railway Company
The Saxon Oberlausitz Railway Company is a German railway company based in Saxony. It is the owner and operator of the Zittau narrow gauge railway.- History :...
.
Former border crossings
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...
.
Germany-Czech Republic
- Hartau-Hradek: Located in the village of Hartau south of Zittau, this crossing is only for pedestrians.
Germany-Poland
- Zittau Chopinstrasse-Sieniawka: This crossing point consists of a road bridge over the Lausitzer Neisse RiverLusatian NeisseThe Lusatian Neisse is a long river in Central Europe. The river has its source in the Jizera Mountains near Nová Ves nad Nisou, Czech Republic, reaching the tripoint with Poland and Germany at Zittau after , and later forms the Polish-German border on a length of...
which forms the border between Germany and Poland to the east of Zittau. The Polish town after the crossing is SieniawkaSieniawka, Zgorzelec CountySieniawka is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Bogatynia, within Zgorzelec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland, close to the Czech and German borders. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
. - Zittau Friedenstrasse-Porajow: Also consisting of a road bridge over the Lausiter Neisse River south of Zittau. The Polish village after the border is PorajówPorajówPorajów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Bogatynia, within Zgorzelec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland, close to the Czech and German borders...
. This crossing is used for those proceeding to the Czech Republic via the Czech-Polish border crossing south of Porajow. The Czech border crossing is located at Hrádek nad NisouHrádek nad NisouHrádek nad Nisou is a town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
. - Zittau Lusatiaweg-Porajow: this bridge which had been formerly closed to pedestrians was opened in December 2007.
Zittau is the only city along the Oder-Neisse line
Oder-Neisse line
The Oder–Neisse line is the border between Germany and Poland which was drawn in the aftermath of World War II. The line is formed primarily by the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers, and meets the Baltic Sea west of the seaport cities of Szczecin and Świnoujście...
where six existing border bridges connecting Germany and Poland are still closed although both countries are members of the Schengen area.
Notable persons
- Fedor ApeltFedor ApeltFedor Apelt was a highly decorated Oberst in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
- Highly decorated Oberst in World War II - Ernst BaierErnst BaierErnst Baier was a German figure skater who competed in pair skating and single skating. He became Olympic pair champion in 1936 together with Maxi Herber. The duo also won several World and European championships.Ernst Baier skated for the club Berliner SC...
- Figure skater, 1936 Olympic champion - Uwe BöningUwe BöningUwe Böning is a German business coach, management consultant and author. He is considered to be one of the pioneers in German business coaching and has shaped the level of research and practice in this field to great extent.-Biography:...
- German business coaching pioneer - Max FiedlerMax FiedlerMax Fiedler was a German conductor and composer, born August Max Fiedler in Zittau, Saxony, Germany...
- Conductor and composer - Moritz HauptMoritz HauptMoritz Haupt , was a German philologist.He was born at Zittau, in Lusatia. His early education was mainly conducted by his father, Ernst Friedrich Haupt, burgomaster of Zittau, a man of learning who took pleasure in translating German hymns or Goethe's poems into Latin, and whose memoranda were...
- Philologist - Lutz HeilmannLutz HeilmannLutz Heilmann is a German politician of the left-wing party Die Linke. He was elected to the Bundestag in the 2005 federal election as a member of the party list in Schleswig-Holstein. Shortly thereafter it was revealed that he had worked for the Stasi...
- Politician - Henriette Heinze :de:Henriette Heinze - Actress
- Fritz HertzschFritz HertzschFritz Hertzsch was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Fritz Hertzsch...
- Highly decorated Generalmajor in World War II - Theodor LeupoldTheodor LeupoldTheodor Leupold was a German racing cyclist from Zittau. He competed at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens.Leupold competed in the 333 metres and 100 kilometres races. He tied with two other cyclists for fifth place in the 333 metres at 27.0 seconds and was among the seven cyclists that did not...
- Olympic cyclist - Albert Johann LudoviciAlbert Ludovici, Sr.Albert Johann Ludovici was born in Zittau, Saxony 3rd Sept 1820 to Henriette Amilie and Johann August Ludovici, ....
- Artist - Michael H. KaterMichael H. KaterMichael Hans Kater is a Canadian-based historian, academic and author of several books on Nazi Germany.He moved to Canada as a teenager where he first studied at St. Michael's college before eventually going onto the University of Toronto where he earned his BA degree in 1959 and then his MA in...
- Historian and author - Johann KriegerJohann KriegerJohann Philipp Krieger was a German Baroque composer and organist. He was the elder brother of Johann Krieger.-Early years:...
- Composer and organist - Johann KuhnauJohann KuhnauJohann Kuhnau was a German composer, organist and harpsichordist.-Biography :Kuhnau was born in Geising, Saxony. He grew up in a religious Lutheran family. At age nine, he auditioned successfully for the Kreuzschule in Dresden...
- Composer, organist and harpsichordist - Sepp KunzeSepp KunzeSepp Kunze is a German footballer who plays for Dynamo Dresden II. He is a fast and versatile right-back or right midfielder.-Playing career:...
- Soccer player - Wolfgang MakatschWolfgang MakatschWolfgang Makatsch was a German ornithologist and oologist. He wrote numerous books about birds and bird identification.Many of his works were translated into other languages and he contributed to Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia.-Life and work:Makatsch was a staff member at both the Heligoland...
- Ornithologist and oologist - Heinrich MarschnerHeinrich MarschnerHeinrich August Marschner , was the most important composer of German Romantic opera between Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner, and is remembered principally for his operas Hans Heiling , Der Vampyr , and Der Templer und die Jüdin...
- Composer - Stephan MeyerStephan Meyer (politician)Stephan Meyer is a German politician . He was directly elected in the election of the state parliament of Saxony to represent the constituency of Loebau-Zittau 2.- Life :...
- Politician - Ulrich PinnerUlrich PinnerUlrich Pinner , is a former professional tennis player from West Germany. He achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No...
- Tennis player - Georg-Wilhelm PostelGeorg-Wilhelm PostelGeorg-Wilhelm Postel was a general in the German Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
- World War II general - Heinz RichterHeinz Richter (cyclist)Heinz Richter , is a German former track cyclist, who won the silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and 13 championships. He competed for the SC Dynamo Berlin/Sportvereinigung Dynamo.- References :...
- Olympic cyclist - Werner RichterWerner RichterWerner Richter was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
- Highly decorated Generalleutnant in World War II - Marco RudolphMarco RudolphMarco Rudolph was a German boxer, who won the Lightweight Silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.- Professional career :...
- Olympic boxer - René SommerfeldtRené SommerfeldtRené Sommerfeldt is a German cross-country skier who competed from 1994 to 2010. He won 2 medals in the 4 x 10 km relays at the Winter Olympics with a silver in 2006 and a bronze in 2002...
- Olympic skier - Lisa TetznerLisa TetznerLisa Tetzner was a German-born Swiss children's writer known for her work with fairy-tales. In 1924 she married Kurt Held. She later fled from Germany due to Nazism and in 1948 became a Swiss citizen. One of her best known works is The Children From No. 67 series written as a collaboration with...
- Children's author - Steffen TölzerSteffen TölzerSteffen Tölzer is a German professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Regular season and playoffs:-International:-External links:...
- Ice hockey player - Albert ZimmermannAlbert ZimmermannAugust Albert Zimmermann was a German painter. He was the brother of painters Max, Richard, and Robert Zimmermann, and served as Max's teacher. He was primarily self-taught as a painter, but did study at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts Munich.-Reference:...
- Painter - Max ZimmermannMax ZimmermannAugust Maximilian Zimmermann, painter and lithographer, was born at Zittau, in Saxony, July 7, 1811. His father, the impresario Karl Friedrich August Zimmermann, brought him up as a musician, but in his leisure he practised lithography...
- Painter - Robert ZimmermannRobert Zimmermann (painter)August Robert Zimmermann, a landscape painter, was born at Zittau in 1815. Among his pictures are The Innthal, near Kufstcin, and a Waterfall, both dated 1863. He died at Munich in 1864. He was the brother of painters Albert, Richard, and Max Zimmermann.-Reference:...
- Painter - Richard ZimmermannRichard ZimmermannRichard Augustus Zimmermann, genre and landscape painter, was born in Zittau in 1820.He was the son of the impresario Karl Friedrich August Zimmermann, and his three brothers, Albert, Max, and Robert, have all been well-known painters...
- Painter