Bautzen, Medieval town in Saxony, Germany
Bautzen is a town built on a granite ridge along the Spree River in eastern Saxony. Towers with slate roofs and remnants of stone walls mark the edges of the old quarter, where paved lanes with steps and arches wind through the streets.
The settlement was first mentioned in writing in 1002 and changed hands several times over the centuries between Bohemian, Hungarian, and Saxon rule. In the late Middle Ages, it joined the Six Cities League, a regional defense alliance against robber barons and for trade.
Street signs and public notices appear in both German and Sorbian, the language of the West Slavic minority living in this area. Many shops and cafés carry bilingual labels, and you can occasionally hear both languages side by side in the market square.
The main square houses the visitor information office, which provides details about sights and walking routes on weekdays. The old town lanes are steep and uneven, so sturdy footwear is helpful.
Saint Peter's Cathedral has been shared by Catholic and Protestant congregations since the 16th century, with each maintaining its own altar area inside the building. A low partition divides the nave into two separate worship zones.
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