Recommended by our holiday experts
Booking hotline: +49 (0)351 491700

Napoleon.Krabat.Karl XII.

At a glance

Start: Martin-Nowak-Neumann House, Lindenweg 2, 02627 Weißenberg OT Nechern
Destination: Martin-Nowak-Neumann House, Lindenweg 2, 02627 Weißenberg OT Nechern

Easy
6,40 km
2 hours
18 m
167 m
155 m

Sorbian Tour Title: Napoleon.Krabat.Korla XII. A forest and meadow hike through history

Vast open fields as far as the eye can see and a soothing scent of chamomile and elderflower invite you to slow down.

King Charles XII of Sweden probably felt the same when he stayed in Nechern in 1706 during the Great Northern War. At that time, he promised mild treatment to the defeated people.

In the nearby Wurschen Castle, Emperor Napoleon even stayed overnight in 1806 on his return journey after signing the Treaty of Tilsit, before returning seven years later to the Battle of Bautzen.

Nechern is the hometown of artist Martin Nowak-Neumann. With his work "Mišter Krabat," he brought the most famous Sorbian legend back into public consciousness.

Tour dashboard

Pavings

Street (18%)
Tarmac (16%)
Gravel (24%)
Hiking trail (37%)
Path (6%)

Weather

General information

Information

Starting point

Destination

Directions

The Martin-Nowak-Neumann House in the village of Nechern, a district of the town Weißenberg, is the starting point of this walking route.
Nechern is mainly known as the hometown of the Sorbian artist Martin-Nowak-Neumann. With his work "Mišter Krabat," he brought the most famous Sorbian legend about the farm boy from Eutrich, who devoted himself to the dark arts, back into public awareness in 1954. Visitors can explore Nowak-Neumann's elaborately renovated home, the authentically recreated shop, a peculiarly furnished living room, and his studio. Behind the house, a look into his “little paradise garden” is also worthwhile.
At Riegelstraße, the path leads left towards the Donkey Farm.
Here, both adults and children can visit the farm animals or book a guided donkey walk.
The road leads for about a kilometer past some historic half-timbered houses to the edge of the village. On the lightly trafficked country road, the walker reaches a small bridge crossing the Kotitzer Water. Before the bridge, the pilgrim’s path turns left towards Wurschen.
Visitors who want to see the Riegel Mill, a watermill with a Zuppinger wheel, continue straight over the bridge on the country road for about 100 meters.
Immigrants in Australia reported about the building already in the 16th century. In its current structure, it has existed since 1871. It has been family-owned since 1916 and is maintained by the Riegelmühle Association. Every year on Pentecost Sunday, the German Mill Day, visitors can tour the Riegel Mill. At other times, guided tours are available by appointment.
After the visit, return to the bridge and turn right onto the pilgrim’s path (symbol = white shell).
After 400 meters, walkers keep left onto the grassy field path, also marked with the pilgrim’s sign.
The route continues through a landscape still historically significant today. During the Great Northern War (1700-1721), in 1706 the then only 24-year-old Swedish King Charles XII briefly stayed in Nechern and achieved that the Saxony-Poland alliance left the triple alliance with Russia and Norway-Denmark. Since 1810, a memorial stone commemorates the Saxon defeat. It also reflects King Charles XII's promise to treat the defeated people mildly.
The so-called Swedish Stone can be reached after about 500 meters on the right side.
Beyond the stone, the path continues along the Mill Path towards Löbauer Water.
Straight ahead, the path reaches the backside of the village Wurschen. At the castle square, it turns left and leads directly to Wurschen Castle.
A century after King Charles XII, the area became fiercely contested during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1806, Emperor Napoleon stayed overnight at Wurschen Castle on his return journey after signing the Treaty of Tilsit, before he returned seven years later for the Battle of Bautzen. During this battle on May 20/21, 1813, the castle served as headquarters for the allied Russians and Prussians; thus, the battle is recorded at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris as the Bataille de Wurschen. Today, the castle is again owned by Count Alfred zu Solms-Sonnenwalde, who reacquired it for the family in 1997 after its expropriation following World War II. The local association "Napoleonstrasse 1813 e.V." works to preserve the regional history.
Passing the castle on the right, the castle path marked with the pilgrim symbol leads into the adjoining park up to the country road (Weißenberger Straße). After about 50 meters right on the country road, the Napoleon Path branches left. It is also marked as a pilgrim route. After about 100 meters, turn left into Siedlerstraße, then about 80 meters later turn right into "Am Kirschgarten" street and follow this to the end.
Here the route offers a small snack option at "Bistro Babu’s Inn".
Now the path leads left along Rodewitzer Straße until you cross the country road (Weißenberger Straße) again. You continue on a cobblestone-paved street. This stone cross path leads directly back to Wurschen Castle.
Past the castle, visitors first follow the route they came from, the bike path marked to Nechern, up to the well-known Swedish Stone. There, however, the route turns right onto a field path and leads straight toward a blue barn on the horizon.
A visit to the historic three-sided farm is worthwhile to meet the "Cake Enchantress" of Upper Lusatia and enjoy her pilgrim cookies.
Past the barn, the route merges left onto the road again at the starting point, the Martin-Nowak-Neumann House.

Safety instructions

Necessary equipment

Tip

Getting there

Parking

Public transport

Guide books

Maps

More information

Download GPX

It appears that you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer as your web browser to access our site.

For reasons of functionality and security, we recommend that you use a current web browser such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, or Edge. Internet Explorer does not display all the content of our website correctly and does not offer all its functions.