The nature trail begins at the youth hostel in Neschwitz.

At the end of the Kastanienallee, there is a signboard where you can get information about the route. The marking consists of small green signs with the stonecrop plant as a symbol.

We leave Neschwitz on the road to Kamenz. At the edge of the town, on the right, there is a protected avenue of black locust and winter lindens. On the "New Bridge" the railway line from Bautzen to Hoyerswerda is crossed. Here we turn left towards Doberschütz and Horka. The road is bordered by old fruit trees. Such avenues are typical for Upper Lusatia; unfortunately, many trees today fall victim to road construction measures. On the left, on flat elevations, individual field copses can be seen that beautifully interrupt the open arable land of the so-called Bautzen area. Behind, you can see the chimneys of the chamotte plant Wetro. Straight ahead lies the small village of Lomske, which belongs to Neschwitz. On the right stretches a larger forest area belonging to the Neschwitz forest district.

After a quarter of an hour, we finally leave the road via a field path leading to the right. At the forest corner, a bench invites you to take a first rest. Up to here, you can also cycle. On the way back, you will pass again at this spot.

We are now on the so-called Old Kamenz Road, a formerly important connecting route to the town of Kamenz. Note the green signs showing various tree and shrub species. At the edge of the path lie large boulders, so-called erratic boulders, transported by ice from the Ice Ages from Northern Europe. They consist of various Nordic rocks. A single row of American swamp oaks lines the path. This tree species is widespread in our area and was particularly often planted on pond dams. Before leaving the open fields and entering the forest, we can learn about the geology of the Neschwitz area on a large information board. In the forest, as in most local forests, pine trees dominate. Under suitable weather, mushrooms can be found in late summer and autumn.

Please note that mushroom picking is only permitted for personal use and therefore only in reasonable small quantities.

After a good half-hour hike, we find an idyllic spot for resting on a small forest meadow. Behind it, we cross a wide track. According to the Saxon Forest Law, driving motor vehicles in the forest is prohibited (except with a special permit). The pole barriers erected in some places are meant to emphasize this. However, they do not constitute a prohibition for pedestrians.

In the following forest sections, the blueberry is well represented. From the pine thickets, you can hear the fine calls of goldcrests and coal tits. In the winter half-year, you occasionally encounter large tit flocks often "led" by a great spotted woodpecker. In spring, the simple song of the chiffchaff sounds here. Willow warblers and chaffinches are also common.

We now leave the forest and turn left on the new Kamenz Road towards Caßlau. Fields stretch out again on the right. Behind them you can see the village of Zescha and, under favorable visibility conditions, in the distance, the chimneys of the Boxberg power plant. If the entire route is too long for you, you can now take a shortcut to Lissahora on the left at the edge of the forest. It leads straight over a meadow where there once was a beautiful pond, the Lissahora pond.

The main path initially runs about 100 m on the road and then continues on a newly created field path turning right. The following section aims to give some inspiration for practical nature conservation work. Next to the path, a hedge was planted in spring 1993, in which many animals already find shelter. The dry branches protruding from the hedge are gladly used by the red-backed shrike as perches. On the arable field behind it, several hunting perches have been set up, providing sitting possibilities for various birds of prey and owls, especially the common buzzard and the tawny owl, during mouse hunting. At the edge of a field copse, stones from the surrounding fields have been piled up into heaps. These stone heaps offer shelter to many animals. Sand lizards and grass snakes like to sunbathe there and quickly find a safe hiding place in case of danger. Favored by the numerous herbs at the edge of the copse and in the hedge, a rich insect life has developed. In late summer and autumn, several dragonfly species can be observed here hunting their prey, including the large mosaic darners, popularly called "devil's needles." Despite their "threatening" appearance, dragonflies cannot sting as often assumed. They are completely harmless.

We continue to follow the path marked with the stonecrop plant, cross the connecting road between Caßlau and Zescha, and then enter the forest again. On the right we see a monoculture of Weymouth pines. This is a pine species introduced from North America to Central Europe via England. The locust tree standing in front, often mistakenly called acacia, is also not a native species. In striking contrast, on the left side of the path, there is a rather natural, species-rich mixed forest with a multi-layered age structure. In spring, you can enjoy a polyphonic bird concert here. Unfortunately, the next plot is again established as a monoculture, this time of spruces.

At the next large crossroads, we turn left. We are now already in the Caßlauer Wiesenteiche nature reserve and should behave especially quietly. The paths must not be left. On the left grows a natural mixed forest typical for this site, with pedunculate oak and hornbeam as main tree species. In the well-developed shrub layer grow hazel bushes and large colonies of lily of the valley spread underneath.

About 100 m further, we turn right and reach the Caßlauer Wiesenteiche ponds. These are so-called sky ponds that mainly receive their water from the surroundings and therefore exhibit a strongly fluctuating water level. Sometimes they dry out completely. From north to south, you can nicely study the different stages of silting here. A large information board provides more details. Almost always, mallards and water rails can be observed on the open water surface. With a bit of luck, you can also see or hear the trilling call of the little grebe. The increasingly rare teal or the endangered garganey are occasionally encountered. The meadows extending to the north on the right side of the path were improved in the seventies. Previously, they were rush- and sedge-rich wetlands that resembled a colorful carpet of flowers in spring. Besides sharp cock’s-foot, cuckoo flower, and meadow knotweed, the spotted orchid, a native orchid species, was also very common here. The broad dams between the path and the water surface were pushed up during a pond reconstruction in the eighties. At that time, the ponds were partially drained and deepened, and the middle dam was broken through.

We have now covered about half of the entire route and leave the Caßlauer Wiesenteiche nature reserve heading south. On the right in the background lies the village of Rosenthal with its large, widely known pilgrimage church.

After a few minutes, we reach Caßlau, cross the road, and follow the track to Lissahora. Behind a farmyard stands a wooden pole with a white stork nest, which is usually occupied every year.

In the forest, we turn right immediately after a bridge crossing a deep ditch and continue alongside the ditch to the Samenteich pond. Here, a bench invites you to linger. On a large information board, you can learn about native aquatic plants, all of which can be found in the pond before us. The path then leads along the pond and narrows into a narrow trail. Views of the water surface are possible repeatedly, where various water birds can be observed, such as mallards, pochards, water rails, and mute swans. Behind the Samenteich, a short boardwalk allows us to step a few meters into a moor area and observe the interesting flora and fauna of this wetland habitat.

The path continues through a pine-birch mixed stand. Shortly after a small information board about the formerly common resin harvesting, we reach the track to Lissahora again and turn right. At the next crossroads stands a tall granite direction post. The four paths lead to Caßlau, Neschwitz, Lissahora, and Doberschütz. Here the shortcut mentioned at the beginning meets the main path again.

At the crossroads, three different oak species grow: pedunculate oak, sessile oak, and red oak. The species differ in leaf shape and the length of leaf and fruit stalks. The pedunculate oak has long-stalked fruits and almost no leaf stalks. In sessile oak, it is the opposite: the fruit stalks are very short, and the leaf has a short but distinct stalk. The red oak, native to North America, is characterized by sharply pointed leaf lobes and is therefore not to be confused with the two native species. The path now rises slightly.

We leave the forest and look over a beautiful meadow area used for cattle grazing. Shortly before the idyllic village of Lissahora, on the left in the forest, there is a small quarry where granite was formerly mined. In Lissahora, pay attention to the executioner’s house, a small half-timbered house on the right of the path, which is unfortunately partly hidden by a new building. The executioner of Neschwitz lived here in the past.

Shortly thereafter, we reach the road and continue left towards Neschwitz. The farmer Kroschk from Lissahora set up an animal enclosure here in 1992, where fallow deer are kept. The animals are not shy and can be well observed from the roadside.

At the end of the enclosure, where the forest begins on the right, we turn left off the road, walk through a species-rich mixed forest, and pay attention again to the signs presenting some of the tree species. The poor needle growth of the spruce stands indicates environmental damage. At a striking larch, we follow the path bending to the right. An information board informs about forestry and forest management here. After a few minutes, we reach the so-called "treasure box," a forest parcel distinguished by a site-appropriate, natural tree population dominated by pedunculate oak. Unfortunately, part of it was clear-cut at the end of the eighties and reforested with a pine monoculture. The "treasure box" was formerly a favorite excursion destination for foresters and students because of its unique forestry features. In the forest, pay attention to various bird species again. Occasionally, the "rattling" of the jay can be heard, which warns other animals of supposed dangers. In the old forest stand, among others, great spotted woodpeckers and black woodpeckers live. The latter is one of the endangered species.

At the next crossroads, a striking pine stands out, colloquially called the "nosebleed pine." Only 50 m further, we meet near the small forest meadow the already well-known path that we followed at the beginning of our hike. It leads back to Neschwitz. 

Day hiking backpack (about 20 liters) with rain cover, sturdy and comfortable footwear, weather-appropriate and durable clothing in a multi-layer principle, if necessary telescopic poles, sun and rain protection, provisions and drinking water, first aid kit, pocket knife, mobile phone, if necessary headlamp, maps

According to its character as a nature trail, the path is not particularly paved. Therefore, we recommend wearing sturdy footwear.

Due to patchy network coverage, we recommend downloading the route before starting and, if necessary, using it offline.