Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 29, 2026

Elstra

Elstra or Halštrow is a town in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Schwarze Elster, 6 kilometres southeast of Kamenz, and 34 kilometres northeast of Dresden. The name "Elstra" stems from the river Schwarze Elster, which rises in the district Kindisch.

Last revised
Jul 29, 2026
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Elstra/Halštrow
Town
Town hall
Town hall
Coat of arms of Elstra/Halštrow
Coat of arms
Location of Elstra/Halštrow within Bautzen district
Czech RepublicDresdenGörlitz (district)Meißen (district)Sächsische Schweiz-OsterzgebirgeArnsdorfBautzenBernsdorfBischofswerdaGroßröhrsdorfBurkauCrostwitzCunewaldeDemitz-ThumitzDoberschau-GaußigElsterheideElstraFrankenthal, SaxonyGödaGroßdubrauGroßharthauGroßnaundorfGroßpostwitzGroßröhrsdorfMalschwitzHaselbachtalHochkirchHoyerswerdaKamenzKönigsbrückKönigswarthaKubschützLaußnitzLautaLichtenberg (Lausitz)LohsaMalschwitzNebelschützNeschwitzNeukirch (bei Königsbrück)Neukirch/LausitzObergurigOhornOßlingOttendorf-OkrillaPanschwitz-KuckauPulsnitzPuschwitzRadebergRadiborRäckelwitzRalbitz-RosenthalRammenauSchirgiswalde-KirschauSchmölln-PutzkauKamenzSchwepnitzSohland an der SpreeSpreetalSteinaSteinigtwolmsdorfWachau, SaxonyWeißenbergWilthenWittichenauBrandenburgPolen
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Map
Location of Elstra/Halštrow
Elstra/Halštrow
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Elstra/Halštrow
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Coordinates: 51°13′15″N 14°7′51″E / 51.22083°N 14.13083°E / 51.22083; 14.13083
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
DistrictBautzen
Subdivisions13
Government
 • Mayor (2022–29) Frank Wachholz1
Area
 • Total
32.63 km2 (12.60 sq mi)
Elevation
200 m (660 ft)
Population
 (2024-12-31)2
 • Total
2,651
 • Density81.24/km2 (210.4/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
01920
Dialling codes035793
Vehicle registrationBZ, BIW, HY, KM
Websitewww.elstra.de

Elstra (German, pronounced [ˈɛlstʁaː] ⓘ) or Halštrow (Upper Sorbian, pronounced [ˈhalʃtʁɔf]) is a town in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Schwarze Elster, 6 kilometres southeast of Kamenz, and 34 kilometres northeast of Dresden. The name "Elstra" stems from the river Schwarze Elster, which rises in the district Kindisch.

The city has only about 2,000 citizens and is one of the smallest cities in Germany. The whole municipality has 2,807 citizens (in 2016).3 It is part of the officially recognized Sorbian settlement area.

Due to the town name's similarity to the word "Elster" (German for magpie), magpies are often used in the town's self-identity.

Personalities

  • Georg Derlitzki (1889-1958), important agricultural scientist and economist
  • Karl Schön (1923-1994), politician (SPD), born in Elstra
  • Otto Garten (1902-2000), artist, born in Elstra
  • Karl Eberhard (1820-1907), architect
References

References