The municipality's centre, north and east are part of the recognized Sorbian settlement area in Saxony.

The south of the district is occupied by the Lusatian Mountains, and the countryside slopes away to the north.

The Spree river enters the district from the southeast and runs through Schirgiswalde and Bautzen before leaving to the north.

The following is a clickable map of municipalities in the district, in German: This lists the towns and municipalities by their German-language names, with Upper Sorbian names in parentheses: The district's arms are identical to the arms of the margravate of Upper Lusatia.

The coat of arms was established about 1350, when six towns of Upper Lusatia founded a confederacy.