Oybin

View from castle towards Zittau

A robber baron fort, a monastery, once host to the Prussian King for Christmas (celebrated with a re-enactment every year for the last 200 years, wonder if they'll do anything to commemorate our visit next year?!) and frequently changing hands because of its strategic position if you want to attack/defend/control/annoy the area. Oybin and the other villages in the Zittau Mountains are now tourist haunts for day-trippers from Berlin and elsewhere. And very pretty. Especially when snowing. But also bloody freezing (-5 anyone?!). Not enough to stop one young fashion victim in Oybin sporting a "midriff" top - yes nothing says you're sexy and fashionable like exposing your stomach to -5. Personally I prefer warding off the cup with a nice steaming cup of gluhwein - nothing like mulled wine at the top of a snowy mountain (this photo is calculated to make anyone of Germanic/Austrian origin jealous and I know at least 7 who will be :)

The Kloisterkirche - note Joerg's "runway" strut

I took a photo through a window for a change