Kamenz

Kamenz (Sorbian Kamjenc) is a Lusatian town in eastern Saxony, Germany, with a population of 18,243, and is part of the Bautzen district. The town is located about 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Dresden and about 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Bautzen. The philosopher and poet Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was born in Kamenz, as was convicted criminal Bruno Hauptmann. 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...