Ottoberg (521 m above sea level) is a modest but geologically fascinating hill at the northern foot of the Zittau Mountains, in the Waltersdorf district of Großschönau. It is a quiet spot for anyone looking for a short, low-key walk away from the crowds while getting a glimpse into the volcanic past of the region.

The summit rises from a gentle, meadow-covered ridge running roughly south-southwest to north-northeast. Its prominence is barely more than a meter, so the peak itself hardly stands out in the landscape. Two small streams, the Pfarrbach and the Kohlflüßchen, flow around the hill to the north, south and east, both eventually joining the Waltersdorfer Dorfbach. In spring and summer the surrounding meadows give the area a peaceful, pastoral character typical of the foothills of the Zittau Mountains, while in autumn and winter the hill takes on a calm, quiet mood, perfect for a brief stroll.

How to reach the summit

• Waltersdorf (near Neu Sorge) - via the Eisgassenweg path, short ascent, easy route

Practical information

• About 125 m southwest of the summit, along the Eisgassenweg, there is a station of the Lebensräume nature trail in the Zittau Mountains Nature Park
• 100 m east of the unwooded summit lies a disused quarry exposing phonotephrite rock
• A field elm on the eastern slope is protected as a natural monument

Ottoberg is the remnant of a Tertiary volcano dating back around 30 million years, and the hill's name derives from Hans Otto, a former estate owner in Waltersdorf.