Camera obscura at the Oybin mountain

The Oybin clock maker built 1852 the Camera obscura (obscure) at the peak of the Oybin mountain. From the building located at an edge, the visitor is able to watch the environment using an optical system inside the dark building. You can enjoy watching the mountain scenery between Armeisen mountain, Toepfer mountain, and Oybin valley or watching other visitors walking on the Oybin plateau.

The system consists of a tower of 2.3 m high, an adjustable mirror, which is installed above a biconvex lens along with a blind. The pictures appear at a concave table that is adjustable in its high. The high adjustment it also important for achieving sharpness. The optical mirror system allows to observe a 360 degree angle of the surrounding environment.

In order to remodel the old camera and make it open to public again huge effort was undertaken. Funded by private patents and through the support of 62 students of the Electronic and Information Technology Goerlitz the project could be accomplished. Since June 1983 Camera obscura has been working again.

Between 1973 and 1983 the Camera obscura at the Oybin mountain was the only one in Germany.

• · 1985 Hainichen/Rahmenberg
• · 1992 Mühlheim/Ruhr, Broich
• · 2000 Ingolstadt/Rieterturm
• · In preparation Marburg (2002)

There are about 18 Camera obscura systems in Europe.

Opening Hours:
May, September und October
Friday: 1pm – 6pm

Saturday, Sunday, Holiday: 10am – 6 pm

June - August
All day: 10am – 6 pm

If you are interested in a guided tour of the Camera obscura or hiking tours or other events, please contact Dr.-Ing. Siegfried Illgen at phone 03583/684187 or mail to 02763 Zittau, Dr.-Sommer-Straße 8 in order to schedule your visit.

You can download a more detailed German version here: CameraObscura.pdf
You will need Acrobat Reader (Version 4.0. or higher) installed.