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Tourism:
Tourist Information Office in Schirgiswalde
Sohlander street 3a ("Bürgerhaus"), 02681 Schirgiswalde
phone: +49(0)3592-34897, fax: +49(0)3592-501397, e-mail: tourismusinfo@schirgiswalde.de

Office hours:
Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Services of the Tourist Information Office:
Dispatch of information material and accommodation directories, consultation service, free accommodation bureau, souvenir shop with Upper Lusatian calendar, books, maps of walks, maps of trails for bicycle tours, postcards and others.

Tourism Association ("Fremdenverkehrsverein") Schirgiswalde:
Fiebigweg 3b, 02681 Schirgiswalde phone: +49(0)3592-544777,
web: www.urlaubinschigiswalde.de , e-mail:info@urlaubinschirgiswalde.de

Services of the Tourism Association:
Dispatch of information material and accommodation directories, free mediation of accommodations for seniors, families, business travellers, associations and groups.

Do not miss to visit the Silbermann Organ in Crostau's church during your stay in the Upper Lusatian highland. The 1732 Silbermann Organ is a "pearl of organ architecture".

Hotels / pensions - holiday apartments - holiday rooms:
Please click, as desired, the respective button on the left side and you will find a large number of offers!

History:
Schirgiswalde has certainly an interesting historical past to present. Presumably in the 13th century our area was settled by Frankish colonists. Schirgiswalde is then first mentioned in records in 1346. The settlement originated at first along a rivulet flowing to the river Spree. During the Thirty Years` War the locality was destroyed and depopulated to a great extent. In order to promote the reconstruction and an economic impetus, the then-landlord succeeded to allow the promotion of Schirgiswalde from village to town in 1665.

Important for its further development was above all the fact that Schirgiswalde did not become assigned to the state of Saxony in 1635, like whole Upper Lusatia, but remained an enclave of Bohemia. This state of being a "bohemian island" in the midst of the Saxon area continued until 1809. Yet, as if that situation was not strange enough, the following years of the so-called "free republic" of Schirgiswalde constituted the most remarkable chapter in its history. Probably every publication referring to our city mentions this time period within which Schirgiswalde did neither belong to Bohemia/Austria nor to Saxony.

Most explanations for this occurrence, such as a lost document or that Schirgiswalde was simply forgotten when reassigning territories, can yet not be accepted as true. Only tedious diplomatic negotiations between Austria and Saxony concerning a territory exchange can be found as reason for the fact that Schirgiswalde remained "stateless" for a period of 36 years. This island position of the city created some remarkable features that remain evident until today. Already at the end of the 18th century, Austria and Saxony aimed at achieving a solution for its borders' adjustment. The unfortunate ending of the war against Napoleon did then force Austria, within the Viennese peace agreement, to give away its bohemian enclaves, such as Niederleutersdorf, Guenthersdorf and Gerlachsheim near Lauban, to the state of Saxony. Schirgiswalde, however, was the most important of those Austrian possessions.
In the meantime, at the end of 1810, Saxony had occupied Schirgiswalde with its military. Since then Austria did practically not exercise any sovereign rights; however, it still considered the town to belong to the bohemian crown as its inhabitants were still bound to their tributary oath. In order to regulate the surrender of Schirgiswalde, a conference was held in Prague in 1811. It was also in Prague, when Schirgiswalde was symbolically transferred from Austria to Saxony on February 25, 1811. Nonetheless, due to the confusions of the time and the bureaucracy that had already developed, it took another 34 years until the actual transfer had effect.

Hiking tips in and around Schirgiswalde:
A long loop road ("Großer Rundweg") goes all around Schirgiswalde for a distance of 13 km. The so-called Bohemian Wenzel Path ("Böhmische-Wenzel-Weg"), named after a former notorious robber band's captain, is 2.5 km long.
The 6.5 km-long Panorama Path ("Panoramaweg") provides its wanderers with marvellous views over the city and its surroundings.
The Josef Vogt Path ("Josef-Vogt-Weg") is 2.5 km long and commemorates the creditable work of the Upper Lusatian patriot and dialectologist.

Tradition / Festivals:
Shrovetide: Schirgiswalde cultivates its Shrovetide custom already for centuries. After all, the Schirgiswalde's Shrovetide activities are already verifiable for a period of more than 200 years. Even though in the beginnings there were no processions, the former trick-or-treat of the children developed successively, apart from some discontinuities, to the Shrove Tuesday procession. The so-called "Foasnacht" has been preserved as cultural treasure, be it to let off steam before the start of the 40 days Lent or to drive out the winter season. In the course of time, the Shrove Tuesday processing reshaped to what it is today. Since 1981, the carnival procession moves through the streets of the Spree city and draws a thousands of visitors. Each year, a new clownish theme is found. The motto of the 2007 procession was: "In unserer Stadt herrscht Jux und Tollerei - Zum 25. Male - Haut oack rei!" (In our town hoax and romp reign - for the 25th time - let's bring it on!)

Opening of the "5th season": Every year, the mayor has to deliver the town hall's key to the president of the carnival club of Schirgiswalde, precisely on November 11, at 11.11 a.m.. At the same time, an amusing spectacle does always take place.

Apple Festival ("Apfelfest"):
Every year during the first October week-end, when the trees' leaves start to turn into different colours, the Apple Festival takes place in Schirgiswalde. It originated in the tradition of fruit cultivation in and around the town. Not only the locals, but also guests from near and far enjoy every year's festival all around the apple. Starting at 1 p.m., an interesting program begins on the town's market place whose climax is the appearance of the "Apple Queen". Several culinary specialities are provided and apples as well as apple products may be purchased. Also, for enthusiastic dancers, the traditional "Äppel-Ball" (apple dance) takes place in house "Treffpunkt" on the eve.

Santa Claus Market ("Nikolausmarkt"):
A centre of attraction, also for many foreign visitors, is the famous so-called "Schirgiswalder Nikolausmarkt", which takes place in the pre-Christmas period and is either combined with a nativity scene or hobby exhibit in an annual rotation. The nativity scene exhibit has already become a tradition with supra-regional prominence. In an affectionate way more than 160 skilfully designed nativity scenes from different cultural backgrounds and different time epochs are set up. The hobby exhibit documents the different but always interesting leisure activities that Schirgiswalde's inhabitants indulge in, also suggesting some new creative recreation possibilities for visitors. Moreover, an extensive cultural program turns the Santa Claus Market into a family festivity, shortening the time of waiting for Christ Child or Santa Claus, especially for children. The pre-Christmas vivid market life with various surprises and music does thus raise the spirit of Christmas within everybody.