A break in style can be so beautiful! Anyone who walks past the Ionic sandstone pillars and under the artfully designed elliptical arch with a golden sun is in for a surprise. The Zittau Hotel Sonne welcomes its guests with exposed concrete ceilings and raw brick walls, eccentric furniture and modern art. What sounds like far too much is beautifully combined here. Modernity meets baroque and the walk through the building becomes a journey through time. Started in 1744 as a coffee shop, the name “Sonnen-Café” (Sun Café) first appeared in 1870. Since then, the eponymous sun, which adorns the large stone entrance portal, has shone over Zittau’s market square.
Once Zittau’s most distinguished hotel, it is the second historic town house that owner and architect Christian Weise has skilfully restored to life. In 2014, he opened the Emmerich Hotel in Görlitz. In his new project in the German-Polish-Czech border triangle, his focus is also on preserving the historic substance. In the 15 rooms with open ensuite bathrooms, in some areas, guests walk over original oak floorboards, pass historic doors and sandstone frames. Exposed baroque wall surfaces contrast with modern fixtures.
Caricatures by artist Sabine Euler, who with tongue in cheek plays on the theme of family holidays, cause a laugh or two in the corridors. The adjoining restaurant Horschel serves modern, regional dishes for both hotel guests and residents of Zittau. And a seminar room offers space for workshops, celebrations or receptions for up to 30 people. A surprising highlight – how could it be any other way, given the name – is at the very top of the building: Three sun terraces, enclosed with golden-yellow metal railings, offer a view south to the crests of the Zittau Mountains. Here at the very latest, this is where every guest will see the light.
What to do
Exploring the city; hiking in the Zittau Mountains; excursions to Poland and the Czech Republic; museums; bicycle tours; trips on the narrow-gauge railway.
Why we like this house
A successful transformation of an old town house into modernity and a perfect starting point for discoveries in the German-Polish-Czech border triangle.
This house is great for
Single travellers, couples
Sustainability
You can leave the car at home: train connection; E-charging facilities nearby;
Details
| Region/Town | DE – Germany, Saxony, Zittau |
| Name | Hotel Sonne |
| Number of guests | Max. 34 guests in 15 double rooms |
| Completed | 1744, 2021 |
| Design | Christian Weise (architect), Weise Planungsgesellschaft; Interior design: Natalia Anuszkiewicz and Christian Weise, Ottomar,, Görlitz |
| Architecture | Historical, Old & new |
| Accomodation | Hotel |
| Criteria | Rooms for 1-2 (hotel), Art, Hiking, Meeting, Mountains, Restaurant, Urban, Workation, EV-charging station, No car needed |
| Same Architect | Emmerich Hotel |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability. Days with a dark grey background are not available, while days in white are available for bookings
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