Cottbus between park art, city history and nature

Cottbus can be explored with a wide range of interests in mind: Late Gothic brick architecture, Sorbian/Wendish culture, garden design and nature experiences all shape the city’s character. Between St. Nikolai’s Upper Church, the museums, Branitz Park and the zoo, you can tailor your stay to your interests. The contrast between historical collections and green park landscapes is particularly appealing.

Church architecture, city history and culture

St. Nikolai’s Upper Church is a Late Gothic, three-aisled brick hall church dating from the 15th century and is considered the largest church in Lower Lusatia. Climbing the 55-metre-high church tower offers views over the green city of Cottbus. Its architecture and views bring together two distinct perspectives on the city.

The Wendish Museum in Cottbus/Chóśebuz is dedicated to the cultural history of the Sorbs/Wends in Lower Lusatia. Through exhibits, traditional costumes and documents, its permanent exhibition offers insights into Sorbian/Wendish life from the past to the present, as well as traditions, language and identity. The Cottbus City Museum focuses on something different: as the central museum for the city’s history, its permanent exhibition, “The Memory of the City,” presents collections about life, work and the culture of the region, as well as the development of Cottbus and Lower Lusatia.

Other museums explore more specialised subjects. The Brandenburg Pharmacy Museum displays fully preserved pharmacy interiors from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including original dispensaries, an herb room, a poison room and a Galenic laboratory. The Airfield Museum, meanwhile, tells 90 years of history of Cottbus’s airfields and aviation in Lusatia. You can choose cultural experiences according to whether you are more interested in city history, regional culture, historic pharmacies or aviation.

Branitz Park: designed landscape and garden art

Branitz Park’s story is told through its landscape. Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau transformed it between 1845 and 1871 from flat agricultural land into an artfully designed park landscape of hills, valleys and bodies of water. One of the park’s two earthen pyramids is the Lake Pyramid, which serves as Pückler’s burial place. The landscape’s contours and the pyramids give the park its distinctive character.

The restored manor farmstead in Branitz Park, created by Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau, is the gateway to this internationally significant work of garden art. The permanent exhibition in the farmstead’s visitor centre provides information about the artistic principles of Pückler and Cottbus painter Blechen, as well as the origins and significance of Branitz Park. The exhibition also offers a balloon ride over Branitz Park. A visit therefore combines the park landscape with information about its design and history.

Green spaces and outdoor experiences

Spreeauenpark is a 55-hectare park that connects Cottbus’s inner-city green spaces with Branitz Landscape Park. Perennial gardens by the water, old oak avenues, beech forests, expansive meadows and quiet areas shape the park landscape. The park offers a variety of settings, from landscaped themed gardens and wooded areas to open meadows.

The Meadow Park in Spreeauenpark hosts open-air concerts, large festivals and picnics. The park pavilion serves as an event stage for up to 1,200 spectators and is used for festivals, open-air events, concerts, and theatrical, light and fire performances. Events add a distinct dimension alongside the green spaces. If a particular event is important to your travel plans, check the dates in advance. The Meadow Park also has a well-developed network of paths connecting it to the park’s other areas.

The Lower Lusatian Tertiary Forest in Cottbus’s Spreeauenpark includes the areas known as Findlingsallee, Mammutstubben and Kohlemoor. These named sections add another natural element to the park. As you explore the green spaces, you’ll find not only gardens, avenues, meadows and quiet areas, but also an area devoted to different features of the Tertiary forest.

The zoo and a family outing

Cottbus Zoo lies between the River Spree, Branitz Park and Spreeauenpark. It is home to more than 1,200 animals representing 170 species; these population figures may gradually change. The zoo also has a petting zoo and a playground, making it particularly family-friendly. For families, it’s a practical addition to museums and park landscapes; you can choose your day’s destinations based on whether you want to focus on animals, culture or designed natural spaces.

Choose accommodation to suit your plans

When looking for accommodation in Cottbus, it’s worth first deciding what matters most to you. A stay focused on museums and city history differs from an itinerary centred on garden art, green spaces or the zoo. Think about which experiences you want to prioritise, then check how well the locations of the accommodation options you’re considering suit your chosen destinations. This way, your choice reflects your travel plans without assuming any particular type of stay.

Discover more destinations

As a nearby destination, you can discover Kahren. For more travel ideas: Frankfurt / Oder, Brandenburg an der Havel.

Return to the overview of the region: Brandenburg.