Bautzen (district)


The district of Bautzen is a district in the state of Saxony in Germany. Its largest towns are Bautzen, Bischofswerda, Kamenz, Hoyerswerda and Radeberg. It is the biggest district in Saxony by area, and a member of the Neisse Euroregion.
It is bordered to the south by the Czech Republic. Clockwise, it also borders the district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, the district-free city of Dresden, the district of Meißen, the state of Brandenburg, and the Görlitz district.

History

Historically, most of Upper Lusatia belonged to Bohemia. After the end of the Thirty Years' War, it became a part of Saxony. Only the small town of Schirgiswalde remained Bohemian until 1809.
The district was established in 1994 by merging the former districts of Bautzen and Bischofswerda. The district of Kamenz and the district-free city of Hoyerswerda were merged into the district in August 2008.

Geography

The district of Bautzen is part of the region of Upper Lusatia. The south of the district is occupied by the Lusatian Mountains, and the countryside slopes away to the north.
The Spree river enters the district from the southeast and runs through Schirgiswalde and Bautzen before leaving to the north. North of Bautzen, the river is dammed by a reservoir.
At its widest, the district is 65 km east-west, and 63 km north-south.

Towns and municipalities

Coat of arms