At the northern back-end of the Zittau basin Hirschfelde, a little town without municipal law, is situated. From the plateaus over the Neiße pasture you can look downwards onto the densely packed mosaic of roofs, the two-naved church (1469) in late Gothic style, over the Neiße to the Polish town Turow with the power plant and the enormous cooling tower, to the circle of mountains on the horizon, from the mountain Tafelfichte (Smrk, 2440m) across the mountain Jeschken (Ješt?d, 1012m) to the Zittau mountains with the mountains Hochwald und Lausche (792m).


Hirschfelde was founded by the Hospitallers around 1300 but was sold to Zittau in 1570. In the 20th century, Hirschfelde encountered a rapid economic boom due to a big power plant, electrochemistry and the flax spinning. In 1990, the industry vanished with the upturn apart from one chemical plant (Fitwerke), only an industry museum reminds people of the great past.

Nowadays, Hirschfelde has narrow lanes, a high church and a surprisingly wide and large market place with interesting arbour houses. Densely packed Upper Lusatian half-timbered houses form a picturesque ensemble in the small town. Cycle paths lead into the attractive valleys in the north (the Marienthal Monastery) or into the countryside around Zittau. The district principal town of Zittau with its two border crossings is 6 km away. Hirschfelde including the district of Rosenthal has 1,900 inhabitants.

www.hirschfelde.de/Hirschfelde/hist_gr.htm