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Olbersdorf lies on half way between the town Zittau and the Zittauer mountains. The village with approximately 5960 inhabitants is also called the "Gate to the Zittauer mountains". The most important connecting streets of Zittau to the villages Oybin and Jonsdorf as well as other places, lead through this village, also the narrow-gauge railway of the SOEG (Sächsisch-Oberlausitzer Eisenbahngesellschaft mbH).

Seen historically, Olbersdorf was an industry-community. Defining for this region in the early years of the 19.-20. century was the brown coal open-cast mining. After the political change in 1989 Olbersdorf altered its structure from a industry-community to a residental-community with middle-class business in the craft- and industrial sector. Service, hotel business and gastronomy are placed here as well.
1991 the last coal-train departed and the last open-cast mining was closed. The flooding of the open-cast mining and a redevelopement followed, which resulted in a creation of a recreational area with mediterran flair. The over 60 hectars big area around the lake offers a campside at the North-beach. A guarded neat sandy beach is accessible free of charge. Additinally, there is an ungarded beach at the southern side of the beach, a surf-school and Saxony`s biggest Beachvolleyball-place.

Among the "Volksbad" (a open-air bath) with a constant water-temperature of 22°C and family-friendly admission prices, you can find a "Clock-museum" as well Saxony´s biggest outside Clock. This exhibition is operated by the "Olbersdorfer Uhrenclub e.V." and can be visited during the whole year. Olbersdorf has a well marked hiking trail-net which allow trekking-tours into the Zittauer mountains and further over the border crossing points to North-Bohemia.


Relevant Link:

Community Olbersdorf

www.olbersdorf.de

A short historical review

Year
Event
1319 First mention in the documents as "Albersdorf".
1429 For the first time, the spelling "Olbersdorf" is found in documents.
1496 Olbersdorf becomes property of the Oybiner cloister, the monks enlive the agriculture.
1547 Olbersdorf becomes under administration of Zittau again.
1651 A school in Olbersdorf is mentioned the first time.
1732 There are 192 houses in Olbersdorf.
1771 The 1. census counted 1658 inhabitants (at this time, together with "Eichgraben")
1800 First coal-mining.
1856 Foundation of an iron-foundry through C.A. Gruschwitz (became later a mechanical engenering factory).
1883 Dedication of the church (1985 it was torn-off for expansion of the open-cast mine).
1890 The narrow-gauge railway is build in the Zittauer Gebirge-Mountains.
1912 Coal-mine in open-cast-mining " Glueck auf!" ("Good luck!"), was used until 1939.
1922 The open-air-bath , named "Volksbad" , is opened.
1922-23 Build of new settlement-houses and consequently enlargement ot the residental-stock.
1927-28 An exoneration-street for the traffic between Zittau and the mountains was built.
1929 Inauguration of the new school.
1946 After the end of the II. world-war, many businesses were expropriated and were changed into publicly owned bussineses (VEB) and the farmers had to join together in publicly owned agrar companys (LPG). The school started its regular teaching again.
1947 Resumption of the coal-production in the open-cast-mining.
nach 1950 Build of new buildings (by the "AWG") in the direction Oybin.
1986 Dedication of the new church-community-center at the "Butterhuebel" after demolition of the old church in 1985.
1988 The new-building-area in the upper-village is build, 3 kindergartens and a school are opened here in 1989.
1990 Close of the open-cast-mine.
1991 In the area of the open-cast-mine begins the redevelopment and recultivation.
1994 The open-air-bath become a "fun-bath" with attractions like a big slide.
1996 Takeover of the narrow-gauge railway by the "Saechsisch-Oberlausitzer"-railroad-company (SOEG).
1999 Flooding of the hole of the open-cast-mine is completed and the area is used as relaxion-area after a regional-garden-show.