Zittau

In the Middle Ages Zittau was a flourishing trading town thanks to its location on the crossroads of several long-distance trading routes.
A new chapter in its history opened on May 1, 2004, when the accession of Poland and the Czech Republic into the EU meant that Zittau went from being a remote backwater in Germany to a strategically located crossroads at the heart of Europe.

By plane

The nearest airport is in Dresden (DRS). Take S-Bahn line 2 to Dresden-Klotzsche and continue by train.

By train

Deutsche Bahn RegionalExpress 2 from Dresden to Zittau via Bischofswerda takes approximately 1½ hours. The RegionalBahn 61 takes about 2. The Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn from Cottbus and Görlitz takes 2 hours to Zittau. The Vogtlandbahn from Liberec gets to Zittau station in half an hour. Zittau's station is a 10-minute walk from the centre of town.
The Verkehrsverbund covering the area is ZVON.

By bus

There are connections from Ebersbach (Regionalbus line 51), Löbau (line 27) and Görlitz (line 21), all operated by the Kraftverkehrsgesellschaft Dreiländereck (KVG). These buses stop at the train station and at Martin-Wehnert-Platz, just South of the Green Ring.

By car

To get to Zittau from elsewherein Germany, take Bundesautobahn A4 to Bautzen-Ost and follow signs to Zittau along the 96 from there. From Poland, take the E40/A4 to Görlitz and then the 99 towards Zittau. From the Czech Republic, take the I/35 north from Liberec.

By bus

Zittau has three local bus routes, all operated by the KVG and calling at stops around the centre of town.

On foot

The centre of Zittau is compact enough to be able to reach most destinations on foot.

In the old town centre the Marktplatz (market square) with its Rathaus (city hall) while in the Neustadt (new town) with Marstall (royal stables) there are three fountains on the square. The Marstall was built in 1511 as a salt-house.

• Johanniskirche

  address: Johannispl. 1
  Church in the town centre designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in 1837, with 60-m tower.

• Weberkirche

  address: Innere Weberstraße 46
  Built between 1488 and 1500, with several later alterations.

• St. Petri-und-Pauli-KircheAbbey church of the former Franciscan abbey.

• Former Franciscan abbeyThe abbey church "St. Petri und Pauli" is part of the site. The buildings house the Stadt- und Kreismuseum a municipal museum, with exhibitions on local history and Dr. Curt-Heinke-Museum a mineral and geological collections.

• Holy Cross Church MuseumThis church is famous for its interesting interior decoration: pulpit, wall paintings and ledger stones. It houses the Präsentation des Zittauer Fastentuchs - The velum quadragesimale was made on 1472, is 8 m tall by 7 m wide, is decorated with 90 biblical scenes (representing the Biblical tale of creation) and used to hang in front of the altar during Lent. There's also a supposedly haunted graveyard next to the church.

• Tierpark ZittauThe zoo covers 7 hectares and houses 400 animals from 70 species.

• WeinauparkA landscape park in English style; Tierpark Zittau is in the park.

Budget

• Alte Böhmische Stube

  phone: +49 3583 6197737
  address: Innere Weberstraße 11, 02763 Zittau

• Wirtshaus zum alten Sack

  phone: +49 3583 540459
  address: Neustadt 47, 02763 Zittau
  Oberlausitzer cuisine.

• 1-2-Pizza

  phone: +49 3583 795106
  address: Uhlandstraße 3, 02763 Zittau

Mid-range

• Dornspachhaus Historisches Wirtshaus + Ritterkeller

  phone: +49 3583 795883
  address: Bautzner Straße 2, 02763 Zittau
  Bohemian and Silesian cuisine.

• Galeriecafé Ambiente

  phone: +49 3583 514491
  address: Dr.-Brinitzer-Straße 10, 02763 Zittau

• Restaurant Cavallino

  phone: +49 3583 510148
  address: Innere Weberstraße 6, 02763 Zittau
  Italian cuisine.

• Marathon Athen

  phone: +49 3583 706360
  address: Leipziger Straße 77, 02763 Zittau
  Greek cuisine.

• La Casa Veccia

  phone: +49 3583 5172777
  address: Johannisstraße 4, 02763 Zittau, Germany
  Opened in May 2017 in the building that used to house the Klosterstuberl. Run by an ethnic Albanian Macedonian family. Excellent Italian food, with medieval vaults indoors and a covered garden square out the back. Child friendly, with huge pizza bambini.

Splurge

• Irish Pub "The Real Ones"

  phone: +49 3583 793900
  address: Neustadt 14, 02763 Zittau

• Kultuhr

  phone: +49 3583 700479
  address: Karl-Liebknecht-Ring 9, 02763 Zittau

Budget

• Bloo Tomato

  phone: +49 3583 510651
  address: Äußere Weberstraße 71, 02763 Zittau
  Near the centre of Zittau.

Mid-range

• Hotel Riedel

  phone: +49 3583 6860
  address: Friedensstraße 23, 02763 Zittau

• Hotel und Restaurant "Schwarzer Bär"

  phone: +49 3583 551-0
  address: Ottokarplatz 12, 02763 Zittau
  Restaurant with international menu.

Splurge

• Zittauer Hof

  phone: +49 3583 7918850
  address: Neustadt 28, 02763 Zittau
  The hotel contains the restaurant "Essbar", haute cuisine.

• Dresdner Hof

  phone: +49 3583 5730-0
  address: Äußere Oybiner Straße 9, 02763 Zittau
  The hotel restaurant Scholek offers a fresh, modern menu with low-calorie options.

• Hotel und Parkhaus Dreiländereck

  phone: +49 3583 5550
  address: Bautzner Straße 9, 02763 Zittau
  In the heart of the historical centre. Restaurant available.

• Take a trip on the narrow-gauge railway in the Zittauer Gebirge - The narrow-gauge steam train connects Zittau to Jonsdorf and Oybin in the Zittauer Gebirge
• Löbau (25 km to the north-west) – König-Friedrich-August-Turm (tower).
• Herrnhut
• Görlitz
• Liberec