One thing we learned during the countless nights that left us with sore legs for days: music connects people. And it does so as much as almost nothing else in this world can.

We are particularly fond of the diversity and magic of electronic music. But music alone is not enough for us, which is why we have long cherished the enchanted dream of organising a very special festival that combines music, art and culture in a harmonious way. People should be able to feel free, no matter who they are or where they come from.

We were always missing the right place to make our idea come true. In November 2020, we made the discovery: a former holiday home in the beautiful Vogtland region of Saxony - abandoned and marked by the traces of time. Finally we had found our place. A lot has happened since then...

With our helpers, we have disposed of thousands of cubic metres of rubbish in huge containers since May 2021. Paths were cleared of stubborn creepers to make them passable again, and squares and terraces were prepared that now invite you to linger. The first step towards a festival was taken. And with "Lugila", the former name "Lug ins Land" (outdated: a watch, guard or lookout tower on an elevated point in the landscape) was taken into the future.

For all the work, the sweat, the laughter, the dancing and the tears, we would like to thank our team from the bottom of our hearts. Without you, none of this would have been possible! Without you, dreams would have remained dreams! Thank you all for being a part of it. We really feel it: the Lugilove.

With the discovery of the site, we started making plans for the future. Plans for a festival where people should feel free. Free in their being, detached from any prejudices and inspired to artistic and creative processes.

Lugila stands for this very feeling of freedom. It is a place for cooperation and for bringing together a wide variety of people and talents. A meeting place for visionary people who come together through their work on the premises and complement each other in their activities. Community and harmonious togetherness are the top priorities here.

This year, for the first time, an extraordinary festival landscape is being created from this inspiring mindset, with which we want to inspire and carry away our visitors. Over the next few years, not only the festival but also the grounds will be constantly developed. So that new, even more beautiful things can be created.

By expanding the premises, we want to create more space for studio areas, workshops, a hostel business and many other cultural activities. Piece by piece, year by year. There are plenty of ideas and space - the possibilities are endless. The anticipation is gigantic!

In the 1920s, Dr Leonard Koch, son of a carpet manufacturer based in Oelsnitz and himself director of the Koch & te Kock factory, built the first building on what is now the Lugila property. The so-called "Koch Villa", an opulent hunting lodge, was to live up to its reputation. Thus, in retrospect, Koch was described in the commemorative publication for the Oelsnitz town anniversary in 1982 as an "ice-cold calculating capitalist" who "squandered millions of marks on his luxurious lifestyle". Nevertheless, Dr Koch was well respected in Oelsnitz as well as in Schönberg and popular with his staff.

In addition to its actual function as a hunting lodge, the villa was also used as a holiday home for family and friends. In addition, it also served as a retreat for Koch and his respective mistresses. For a higher variety of huntable animals, Mr Koch bred mouflons on the grounds. He then tried to naturalise the mouflon on the Kappellenberg near Schönberg. According to eyewitnesses, the last mouflons were sighted in 1956.

In 1944 Koch died and his brother Robert took over the property. Mr Koch kept a guest book on his property. The last entry came from a Russian soldier who was delighted with the mouflons after the end of the war. These reminded him of his homeland, it says there.

In 1950, the property was expropriated, acquired by the FDGB and from then on bore the name "Lug ins Land". At that time, the FDGB acquired the buildings for use as a holiday home for local recreation for members of the united trade union.

From 1965, the FDGB chairman and GDR politician Harry Tisch took over the reins of the "Lug ins Land Ferienheim". From then on, he and his guests had exclusive access to the grounds. There was a strict ban on photography, which is why there are only a few, if any, photographs from the years 1965 to the fall of the Wall. Under Harry Tisch's management, the buildings were supplemented by the bathhouse and the combined heat and power plant, which were completed in 1983. It took four attempts before the tile colour of the bathhouse was approved by Mr Tisch. The destruction of the first three tile attempts led to resentment in the district, because tiles were very rare at that time. In addition, there were other privileges in the holiday home at the time, such as rare types of beer and special food, which were hardly available in the GDR at the time.

In 1990, the FDGB was dissolved and Mr Netsch took care of the buildings from then on. All furniture, files, lamps and other furnishings were left behind.

Shortly after reunification, a new owner acquired the holiday home. It was to be called "Swiss Charlet" and serve as a hunting hotel again. Dog sledding was also on the agenda as an attraction. A new building was added to the old forester's lodge, and the "Schnitzelranch" was opened to the outside world as a small excursion restaurant. Skat evenings and Christmas parties followed.

Unfortunately, the ominous owner failed in the end in his attempt to bring the site back into full operation and left the holiday home in 2001, leaving only his dog behind, which was fed by a Bad Brambacher hunter for months afterwards.

Since then, the buildings - under different owners - have been left to their own devices. Decay, vandalism and rubbish decorated the beautiful houses and the surrounding nature. Over the next few years, abandoned objects served as a souvenir shop for adventure-hungry Lost Places hunters and other shady people. A few historic photos can be found and are published here in the gallery. We are grateful for every photo and every hint to complete the historical background.