The Church of the Holy Cross in Zittau is a striking Gothic building famous for having the largest single-pillar hall in Germany — its entire vaulted ceiling rests on just one slender central column. No longer used for worship, the church now serves as a museum, home to the extraordinary Great Zittau Lenten Veil from 1472, one of the most significant surviving medieval textiles in Europe.

Inside, the atmosphere is intimate yet awe-inspiring: a star-vaulted ceiling spans out from a single twelve-sided pillar, surrounded by faded Gothic wall paintings and richly decorated 17th-century galleries. The church is encircled by a historic cemetery filled with ornate burial monuments, particularly beautiful in autumn light. It's a quiet, atmospheric stop for anyone exploring Zittau's old town, appealing equally to architecture lovers and casual travelers.

• Zittau town centre — on foot, approx. 5-10 minutes, easy
• Zittau railway station — walk approx. 15-20 minutes through the town centre

• The church operates as a museum within the Zittau Municipal Museums network
• Main highlight: the Great Zittau Lenten Veil (1472), displayed in the world's largest museum display case
• Surrounded by the historic 'Kreuzfriedhof' cemetery with 18th-century family burial vaults

Fun fact: the Lenten Veil survived turbulent postwar decades before returning to public display here in 1999, once again housed in the very building it was originally intended for.