Zittau–Oybin/Jonsdorf railway, Historic narrow-gauge railway in Zittau Mountains, Germany
The Zittau–Oybin/Jonsdorf railway is a narrow-gauge mountain line spanning 16 kilometers through southeastern Saxony. It runs between Zittau city and the two resort towns of Oybin and Jonsdorf, stopping at several intermediate stations along the route.
The railway opened in 1889 under the Royal Saxon State Railways to support tourism in the mountain region. It was built during a period when the area was developing as a destination for visitors seeking to escape industrial cities.
The railway passes through villages where timber-framed houses line the route, connecting mountain communities with the lowland city below. Today, both travelers and locals rely on this line to move between the towns and explore the surrounding landscape.
Trains operate daily from Zittau station with regular service throughout the day. Check the schedule before visiting, as frequency varies by season, and the full journey takes roughly an hour.
The line handles steep gradients up to 33 percent and navigates tight curves on its route through the mountains. This engineering allows the train to reach remote valleys and high villages that would otherwise be difficult to access by road.
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