Muellerthal

Muellerthal is a small municipality situated in the district of Bautzen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. The village lies in the western part of the region, east of the city of Bautzen and north of the district capital of Görlitz. Covering an area of 13.4 square kilometres, Muellerthal is located on the slopes of the Lusatian Highlands, at an elevation of approximately 200 metres above sea level. The municipality includes the main settlement of Muellerthal and the hamlet of Neulände, and is bordered by the villages of Kleinschönau to the north and Holzie to the south.

The first documentary mention of Muellerthal dates to 1245, when the village was recorded in a tax register of the Bishopric of Meißen. During the Thirty Years' War the settlement suffered significant population losses, but it recovered in the 18th century under the influence of the Habsburg administration. In the 19th century, the arrival of the railway line from Görlitz to Bautzen fostered small-scale industrial development, particularly in textile and timber processing. The municipal limits were expanded in 1978 when the neighboring hamlets of Neulände and Hürben were incorporated.

According to the 2021 census, Muellerthal has a population of 1,152 residents. The community features a historic Protestant church, St. Mary's, dating from the 16th century, and an annual folk festival that showcases traditional Saxon music and cuisine. The local economy remains largely based on agriculture, forestry, and small-scale manufacturing, with many inhabitants commuting to nearby urban centers for employment.