At the location of today's old town a castle had been built to secure the crossing of route Via Regia and river Schwarze Elster at the end of the 12th century. The Via Regia was an important trade route between Belgium and Silesia. In 1225 the town was mentioned the first time and in 1319 it became independent. The League of six towns of Upper Lusatia had been founded by Kamenz and five other lusatian towns for protection against robber barons in 1346. In 1707 a fire destroyed large parts of the old town. The philosopher and poet Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was born in Kamenz in 1729.

 

Stadttheater (City theater)

Hutbergbühne Kamenz (an open-air stage for up to 10,000 visitors)

 

Museum der Westlausitz (Museum of Western Lusatia)

Lessingmuseum (Museum of Lessing)

 

 

 

Blütenlauf auf dem Hutberg (Run on the Hutberg)

Lessing Days (every year, January and February)

Fête de la Musique every year on June 21

Forstfest (Forest Festival), every year in the week of August 24 (St Bartholomew's Day)

Kamenzer Nasenfest (Nose Festival), Festival with the so called nose market every year on October 3

carnival

Popular German band Silbermond, originally from the nearby town of Bautzen, have made it a personal tradition to play the final concert of their album tours at Kamenz's Hutbergbühne stadium.