Wehrsdorf

Wehrsdorf is a small village in a valley of the "Lausitzer Bergland" in the region of Upper Lusatia (Oberlausitz) in Saxony, Germany. It has about 1,776 inhabitants and belongs to an administrative community of three different villages, with Sohland an der Spree (Sohland at the river Spree) and Taubenheim. This community is offícially called Sohland because it is the largest of these villages. All together, the comunity has about 7,700 inhabitants. Near the village is the border to the Czech Republic.

Monuments

The most important building in the village is the Lutheran church which was built in 1725 in the Baroque style. The tower is more than 40 meters high and sends its greetings over the valleys of the region. Near the church there is the old cemetery with its typical flowered graves. The most important arcitectural heritage of the southern part of Upper Lusatia is the so called "Umgebindehäuser". They are special, half-timbered houses which unite the differnces of the Slavic and the Franconian styles of wooden houses. Most of the houses that exist today were build in the era between 1850 and 1890.

Religion

Most people are still atheists, like it used to be in the time of official Socialism. But there is also a Lutheran tradition and most people are linked to this religion, as well as a strong Catholic minority. Upper Lusatia is typically a religious mixed region.

Economic structure

In the time before reunification in 1990, the village was still a typical " saxon industrial village" with four big and several small enterprises which all belonged to the state. They produced furniture, clothing, metal instruments and more. After the reunification, most of the firms were not able to survive; only the firm that produced furnitures still exists. The high rate of unemployment today is also the most important reason why so many people have left the region. But in comparison with other villages of Upper Lusatia, Wehrsdorf is still well off.

Before 1990 the upper lusatia also was one of the most important touristical regions in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). Even though fewer people come to the lusatian mountains today and many restaurants and bars closed in the last 15 years, the touristical infrastructure still exists. Four restaurants, a hotel (****) and several private bed-and-breakfasts are now there for guest who want to enjoy some days in the region.