The Salzhaus, also known as the Marstall, is a striking historic building in the New Town of Zittau, ranking among the most significant storage buildings in all of Germany. Its monumental presence on the market square makes it impossible to miss - a place where history and everyday life blend seamlessly, filled with shops, cafes and a library.

Measuring 53 by 25 meters and standing nearly 30 meters tall, the building has eight levels, including three full floors, and boasts an impressive 340 windows. The mansard roof added in 1730 gives it its distinctive, dignified silhouette, harmonizing beautifully with the Renaissance and Baroque townhouses surrounding the square. In spring and summer the square comes alive with seasonal themed markets, while in winter the building forms a striking contrast against the snow-covered rooftops of the old town.

• Zittau town center - New Town market square, on foot, a few minutes, easy route
• Salzhaus sits right in the heart of the old town, easily reachable from any part of it

• The building houses the Christian Weise Library on about 1,800 m²
• Since 2014 the upper floors have been home to the Volkshochschule Dreiländereck
• The lower floors and the Old Smithy contain several shops and restaurants
• Behind the building stands the Old Smithy from 1713, once used to shoe horses

Above the right portal you can spot a horse head, a reminder of the times when the building served as stables and an armory. In 1757, during the Seven Years' War, the Salzhaus was struck by a twelve-pound cannonball, a small but vivid trace of its turbulent past.