Village walk Oybin

A      House of Guests

Guest information | Library | Room reservation | Event hall | Park area with pond and quiet zones

B      Mountain Church

The church is built in the late Baroque style and has existed in its current form since 1734. The paintings on the galleries and the ceiling of the church were created by local artists. They used the so-called grisaille technique. In this gray-on-gray style, designs were made at the time for the damask weavers in the region. The mountain church is open almost year-round daily for devotion, silence, and prayer.

C      Knights' Gorge

The path continues through the Knights' Gorge to the Knights' Bridge and the outer bailey.

D      Castle and Monastery

The entire castle and monastery complex covers an area of about 4 hectares on the Oybin plateau.

Note: An entrance fee must be paid for the visit.

Initially just a simple fortification, the castle was expanded into a fortified complex at the beginning of the 14th century.

In the mid-14th century, Emperor Charles IV had an imperial house built here and founded a monastery for the Celestine order, whose imposing church was constructed with the involvement of the famous Prague cathedral builders.

In 1577, a lightning strike destroyed the complex, and nature took over until Romantic painters rediscovered it.

Many artists such as Alexander Thiele (court painter of Friedrich August III), Caspar David Friedrich, Carl Gustav Carus, and Ludwig Richter chose Oybin as a motif for their paintings and made it widely known. The famous painting by Caspar David Friedrich, “Hutten's Grave,” was created in the ruins of the monastery church.

E      Oybin Museum

The museum, founded in 1879 by Dr. Alfred Moschkau, is located in the former residential tower of the castle complex. His grave is located in the mountain cemetery of Oybin. The museum offers insights into the rich history ranging from the first settlement and notable personalities to building history.

F      Monastery Church Ruins (with Observation Tower)

The ruins of the monastery church provide an overwhelming impression of a church building and fascinate visitors with their unique acoustics, experienced during many events and concerts.

G      Camera obscura

The highest point on Oybin (514 m) is the north summit with the “Camera Obscura.” It is a kind of pinhole camera that can display live and color images of the surroundings exactly. It has been operated as a tourist attraction for over 150 years.

H      Mountain Cemetery

One of the few cemeteries nationwide located on a mountain and still operational.

I      Mountain Inn

Historic inn with knights' hall, where emperors, kings, and princes have dined.

J      Mountain Ring Path

A circular route on the mountain ring path offers unique views of the valley basin and the surrounding mountains.

K      Hausgrund and Forest Pond

Rock steps lead down into the Hausgrund valley, past the carved knight to the Hausgrund pond, in whose crystal-clear water the ruins are reflected. Benches invite you to rest.

L      Narrow-gauge railway station

The Zittau narrow-gauge railway has been running since 1880 on a track gauge of 750 mm from Zittau into the mountains to Oybin and Jonsdorf. The “Bimmelbahn” needs about 45 minutes for the 12 km route. The museum on the history of the narrow-gauge railway is located directly next to the station.

M      Spa Park with Water Treading Pool

In the extensive, beautiful spa park you will find a water treading pool and quiet zones.