Oybin Castle and Monastery
Burg und Kloster Oybin
Gothic monastery ruins atop a honeycomb-shaped sandstone outcrop in the Zittau Mountains, a classic subject for Romantic painters.
Oybin is a honeycomb-shaped sandstone outcrop. On its summit are the royal castle built by Charles IV in the 14th century and the ruins of a Celestine monastery. The Gothic church ruins attracted painters such as Caspar David Friedrich, who sketched them here. You can walk up from the village at the foot in about 20 minutes, and admission is about 7 euros. Nearby trails include the sandstone labyrinth (which has night-time walks) and Hermit's Rock. It is recommended to reach the site on the narrow-gauge steam train of the Zittau Mountains, which is about 40 km from Görlitz.
Opening hours
Approx. Apr–Oct 9:00–18:00; winter 10:00–16:00
Nearby sights
- Zittau & Great Zittau Lenten Veil
- Zittau Narrow Gauge Railway
- Herrnhut
- St. Marienthal Abbey
- Löbau Cast Iron Tower
- Lake Berzdorf
- Landeskrone
- Görlitz Zoo