Welcome to the Zittau Mountains Nature Preserve

Take your time to explore a unique and peaceful cultural landscape.

The Zittau Mountains Nature Preserve is a scenic treasure of Saxony. Together with the Lusatian Mountains and the Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, both on the Czech side, it creates a unified landscape. Surrounded by unspoilt nature and along the blue ribbon of the Mandau River, a 1,000-year-old cultural landscape extends in a sometimes Saxon, sometimes Bohemian, but always friendly way. What is characteristic for the Nature Preserve is the harmony of places like the Zittau Mountains, Lake Olbersdorf, the historic town of Zittau and idyllic villages with houses in a typical, regional design – the Upper Lusatian “umgebinde” houses.  The special charm of Germany’s smallest low mountain range is reflected in the sandstone hills in a multitude of forms, volcanic summits, picturesque valleys and rock formations reminiscent of mythical creatures.