Useful information about the place and its history

Pritzen was mentioned for the first time in the Meißen diocese register from 1495. The place name is probably based on the Lower Sorbian form prjecny (= cross). Most villages were laid out in an east-west direction, but Pritzen lies crossways (north-south).

The villages of Pritzen, Nebendorf and Neudorf were Saxon up until the Vienna Congress in the year 1815, when they became part of the Prussian state formation. Pritzen has been part of the community of Altdöbern since 2002 and belongs to the district with the same name.

Modern-day Pritzen features landscape art by the edge of Lake Altdöbern, which developed from the former Greifenhain mine. Artists from around the world have created interesting and unusual works under the theme “international land art” as part of the European biennials of 1993 and 1995, and they can still be marvelled at today.

Even though Lake Altdöbern has not been completely filled yet, cyclists especially like to cycle around it. The cycle path along the south bank offers interesting views across the lake and the “yellow ramp” viewing point encourages visitors to stop a while and enjoy the view.