Lusatia

Lusatia, or Lausitz in German and Łużyce in Polish, is a historic region of Central Europe spanning parts of eastern Germany and western Poland. In present-day Germany it is divided into Upper Lusatia in eastern Saxony and Lower Lusatia in western Brandenburg. A portion of the historic area extends into Poland along the Lusatian Neisse river, where the Polish name Łużyce is commonly used.

It is the traditional homeland of the Sorbs, a West Slavic people. The Sorbs maintain two closely related languages, Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian, both recognized as minority languages in Germany. Bilingual signage and local schooling exist in areas where Sorbian communities are concentrated.

Historically Lusatia formed part of the Holy Roman Empire as the Margraviate (later Principality) of Lausitz and later came under the rule of Saxony. After World War II, shifting borders placed much of the region within East Germany, while the eastern areas became part of Poland. The Sorbs retained minority rights in Germany.

Geographically the region includes the Lusatian Highlands and the river basins of the Spree and the Lusatian Neisse. The Lusatian Lake District, a large complex of artificial lakes created from former lignite mines, demonstrates the area’s long industrial history. The economy has transitioned from mining toward energy, tourism, and services.

Major towns include Bautzen (Budyšin) in Upper Lusatia and Görlitz (Zgorzelec) at the German-Polish border, with Cottbus and Spremberg in Lower Lusatia. The Sorbian cultural heritage is showcased in museums, festivals, and bilingual education, making Lusatia a center of Sorbian language and culture.