Open Day — Herrnhuter Sterne Manufactory

Herrnhuter Sterne — a World Product from Saxony

The Herrnhuter Sterne are one of the most famous Advent products from Germany. Since the 19th century, these multi-pointed stars made of paper or plastic have been handcrafted in the small Upper Lusatian town of Herrnhut — originating as a school project of a Moravian Church school, it has become a world-renowned product. Today, the Herrnhuter Stern hangs in living rooms, shops, and churches around the globe, from Berlin to New York, from Tokyo to Cape Town. The manufactory in Herrnhut continues to produce by hand — and once a year, it opens its doors to the public.

May 2, 2026 — The Whole Town Opens Up

The Open Day 2026 will take place on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. But it's not just the manufactory that is open — the day is a joint event of the manufactory, the Moravian Church, and the town. Workshops, community rooms, historical sites of the Moravian Church, and several attractions in Herrnhut invite you for a free visit.

What's Offered at the Sterne Manufactory

In the main building of the Herrnhuter Sterne Manufactory (Oderwitzer Straße 4), you'll find: production tours every 30 minutes (registration on-site) — here you can see the steps of star-making: cutting the paper parts, folding the points, assembling the modules, installing the electrical wiring for the illuminated models. Crafting activities from the DekoHaus — those who wish can craft their own small stars. Children's carousel for the youngest visitors. Live music from local bands and orchestras creates a festive atmosphere.

Other Activities in Herrnhut

In parallel, other institutions are opening their doors: workshop tours at Oberlausitzer Werkstätten — a social workshop for people with disabilities with demonstration productions. Handcar rides at the old train station — a nostalgic railway experience. Origami workshop at the Ethnographic Museum with a connection to the global network of the Moravian Church's mission. Presentations in the church hall of the Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine — the spiritual community explains its traditions and history.

Saxony, Upper Lusatia, and Herrnhut

Herrnhut is a small town with around 2,500 inhabitants, located in the Görlitz district in eastern Upper Lusatia, near the border with Poland and the Czech Republic. The town was founded in 1722 by the Moravian Church — religious refugees from Bohemia and Moravia found refuge here under the protection of Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf. The famous Herrnhuter Sterne, the Herrnhuter Losungsbuch (with Bible verses for each day, published since 1731), and much more originate from this Moravian Church tradition. The Open Day is an opportunity to get to know this unique piece of Saxony.