Lawalde: Mill History, Church and Trails

In Lawalde, mill history and marked trails stand out as two defining themes. The Niedermühle preserves almost all of its historic milling equipment; a hike passes by the mill and the village church. Cycling routes range from an 11.5-kilometre trail to the 110.5-kilometre Mühlenweg. When planning, consider whether you mainly want to explore the places and trails in Lawalde or include longer routes through several villages.

Mill and Church: History to Discover Along the Way

The Niedermühle is the only surviving one of the three mills that once stood in Lawalde. Its millrace is about 900 metres long, and the mill retains almost all of its historic equipment. The number of former mills and the length of the millrace give the history of milling a tangible scale. The Niedermühle is therefore a distinctive destination for anyone interested in regional technological history.

The ensemble includes a Baroque hall church and a separate, solid gate bell tower. The church’s original blue ceiling painting and the floral paintings on the galleries have been restored. Three bells in the freestanding Lawalde bell tower are rung by hand; check in advance to find out what the current practice is. You can contact the parish office about visiting; guests are also welcome at church services.

On Foot Along the Lawalde–Lauba Circular Trail

The marked Lawalde–Lauba circular trail is an easy 20-kilometre hike. Allow about six hours and 275 metres of elevation gain. The route is marked with a green triangle and a green L. It passes the Niedermühle and the village church, then continues through the Höllengrund and along the millrace. This makes it possible to combine a longer day of hiking with several of Lawalde’s defining places in one loop. The estimated duration is a useful guide when planning your other activities around the hike.

Cycling Routes of Various Lengths

The 11.5-kilometre Lawalde circular trail connects Lawalde, Streitfeld and Kleindehsa. The 17-kilometre Cactus Tour starts in Löbau, runs via Lawalde, Streitfeld and Kleindehsa, and returns to Löbau. A longer loop is the 46-kilometre “Half-timbered Houses in Upper Lusatian Villages” route: it starts and ends in Lawalde and passes through Cunewalde, Crostau, Schirgiswalde and Taubenheim, among other places.

The 110.5-kilometre Mühlenweg also passes through Lawalde. Its route runs between Löbau, Großschweidnitz, Obercunnersdorf and the area around Kottmar. The routes therefore differ not only in length but also in whether Lawalde is the start and finish point or lies along a longer route. Check the current signage before setting off.

Museum, Cactus Collection and Kleindehsa

The local history museum explores the history of the rural population of Upper Lusatia across around 400 square metres. Exhibits include a fully furnished weaver’s room and a fully functional handloom. If the loom’s condition is important for your visit, check in advance whether it is currently still in working order.

The Matthes family collection began in 1914 and comprises around 1,500 to 2,000 different cactus species. It is regarded as one of Germany’s oldest documented private collections. Kleindehsa is also home to the former water castle complex and its park, both of which are sights within the municipality of Lawalde. The complex once housed a branch of the von Carlowitz family; today it houses the municipality’s primary school. As the buildings are used as a school, it is advisable to check in advance whether a visit is possible and under what conditions.

Lawalde as a Search Destination for Your Accommodation

If you want your trip to focus on the hike and places in Lawalde, consider Lawalde as a destination when searching for accommodation. When planning your routes, it is worth checking where each one starts and ends: the 46-kilometre loop starts and finishes in Lawalde, while the Cactus Tour starts in Löbau and returns there. The Mühlenweg passes through Lawalde as part of a longer route.

Discover other destinations: Leutersdorf, Schönbach, Dürrhennersdorf, Kottmar, Görlitz, Hohendubrau and Weißkeißel.

Back to the main travel overview: Görlitz.