Gosda: Plinsdorf Craftsmanship, Fieldstone Buildings and Mills

Gosda combines a distinctive village culture with a landscape shaped by meadows and forests. Gosda, Weißag and Zwietow lie in a valley characterized by Calau Switzerland. Locally, the three places are also known as “Plins villages” or “mountain villages.” Their distinctive character can be seen in their architecture, craftsmanship and mills.

Plins Villages: Architecture and Craftsmanship

An especially large number of fieldstone buildings have been preserved in the Plins villages of Gosda, Zwietow and Weißag. Their owners have renovated them in recent years. The buildings give village culture a visible connection to the local building style; together with the local names, they shape the character of the three places.

Craftsmanship in Gosda also adds a distinctive touch: in the Plins village, André von Martens creates artistic vessels using an elaborate black-firing technique. His work is inspired, among other things, by Slavic ceramics, and he has received several awards for it. Those interested in ceramics will find a specific subject here that offers insight into Gosda’s cultural side beyond its landscape.

Views and Getting Your Bearings

The viewing platform of the Luckaitztal brick tower is 38 meters above the forest floor, and 216 steps lead to the top. The shortest walking route starts at the rest area near Weißag. Marked trails also lead to the tower from Werchow and Luckaitztal railway station. The height, number of steps and access routes mentioned here offer practical points of reference when planning the climb and choosing a starting point for your outing.

The Calau Switzerland observation tower is built from 93,850 clinker bricks made at the nearby Buchwäldchen brickworks, operated by Wienerberger GmbH. In clear weather, the view from there extends to Calau’s town church, Cottbus, the Jänschwalde power station, the F 60 visitor mine near Lichterfeld and the Lusatian Highlands. Calau Switzerland is part of the “Niederlausitzer Landrücken” Nature Park. This striking architectural feature and sweeping view stand alongside the landscape that shapes the valley.

Trail markers also help you find your way: the Kranichtour route passes through the Plins villages of Gosda and Zwietow and is marked with a stylized crane on a yellow background. The Heedekornweg is marked with a yellow dot on a white background. When planning your route, the different symbols help you tell the two trails apart. The “Fuchsmühle” is on the Starick family’s property, right beside the cycle path between the Plins villages of Zwietow and Weißag.

Mills and Their Stories

The “Alte Mühle” is associated with the year 1403 and still operates today as a buckwheat, grain and sawmill. The former Zwietow post mill tells a different story: it was built in 1860 and converted into a motor mill in 1937. Today, it is used as a museum of rural everyday culture, displaying smallholder farming equipment and household items.

The former post mill is in Calau Switzerland on the main road between Gosda and Zwietow. Visits and guided tours are possible by prior arrangement, so be sure to arrange your visit in advance. Gaumers Gasthof is at Dorfstraße 4, 03229 Luckaitztal OT Gosda-Weißag. If you plan to visit, check the arrangements in advance as well.

Choose Accommodation That Fits Your Plans

When choosing accommodation, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: would you like to learn more about Gosda’s fieldstone buildings and craftsmanship, plan a climb up the tower using one of the access routes mentioned, or include a visit to the former post mill? Then compare the specific accommodation address with the places you plan to visit. For a visit to the mill, prior registration is part of the planning. This way, you can choose your base according to the experiences you want to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Schwarzbach, Großräschen, Lübbenau/Spreewald, Laasow, Schwarzheide, Altdöbern, Lauchhammer, Großkmehlen.

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