Coordinates 51°10'53?N 14°25'26?E? / ?51.18139°N 14.42389°E? / 51.18139; 14.42389Bautzen is often regarded as the unofficial, but historical capital of Upper Lusatia, and it is the most important cultural center of the Sorbs, a Slavic minority.
The town on River Spree is situated about 50 kilometres east of Dresden between the Lusatian highland and the lowlands in the north, amidst the region of Upper Lusatia. Northwards stretches the Bautzen reservoir, which was flooded in 1974. This is the former place of the villages Malsitz (Malšecy) and Nimschütz (Hnewsecy).
The old part of Bautzen is located on the plateau above the Spree, whose top is marked by the Ortenburg castle. It is bordered by the city walls. The later-built younger quarters in the east were enclosed by the city ramparts. After their removal, the city expanded further east and to the left bank of the river. However, there is only a small urban area west of the Spree until today. In the 1970s, the development areas of "Gesundbrunnen" and "Allendeviertel" were erected. After 1990, several neighbouring villages got incorporated.
