Großschönau

Großschönau is a municipality in the district of Görlitz (German: Görlitz, Polish: Zgorzelec), in the easternmost part of the state of Saxony (Germany). The municipality lies on the Mandava River in Upper Lusatia, directly on the border with the Czech Republic, in close proximity to the Czech town of Varnsdorf. It is believed that Frankish settlers founded the village in this area in the 12th century. The first written mention of Großschönau dates back to 1352, when the village was referred to as Magnum Sonow. The German name of the village is explained by the fact that it was built on a large, beautiful meadow. The tradition of textile production in Großschönau dates back to the second half of the 17th century. In 1666, brothers Friedrich and Christoph Lange from Großschönau traveled to the Netherlands, where they learned to weave damask textiles; upon their return home, they introduced this craft to their village. After several decades, damask cloth from Großschönau—particularly tablecloths and placemats—became famous throughout Europe. For example, records show that in 1834, the damask manufacturing industry provided a livelihood for approximately 3,800 local residents, including family members, which at the time represented three-quarters of the local population. Even in the 21st century, two textile factories—producing damask and terry cloth—have been preserved in Großschönau.

What to See:

Museum of Vintage Motorcycles

Hauptstraße 54

02779 Großschönau

Web: www.grossschoenau.de