Discover Neuhausen/Spree: Water, Nature and Culture

Neuhausen/Spree has many different sides: historic churches, events in June, the banks of the Spree and nature areas. The attractions in Komptendorf, Klein Döbbern, Frauendorf and Bagenz each have their own focus. When planning your trip, it is worth first considering whether you are mainly looking for water and leisure activities, culture and events, or routes through the landscape.

Churches and events in June

The fieldstone church in Komptendorf is the largest church in the municipality of Neuhausen/Spree. Its distinctive details include the Renaissance gable and a baptismal angel donated in 1698. During baptisms, it descends from the ceiling. The church in the centre of Klein Döbbern offers another glimpse into history: its core dates from the late 13th century. This offers a chance to explore two different histories of church architecture within the municipality.

The events calendar also features a highlight in June. The traditional International Music Festival takes place in Komptendorf every two years, welcoming up to 1,000 musicians from several nations. The Neuhausen/Spree Water Festival is held regularly in June and includes the region’s largest international dragon boat race. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these events, check in advance when the next edition will take place.

The Spree, the reservoir and nature

Well-developed trails run along the Spree and around the Spremberg Reservoir and can be used for hiking and cycling. The reservoir and its banks were designated a nature reserve in 2004. The “Kathlow-Sergen Pond and Meadow Landscape” offers another glimpse of the local wildlife: ospreys, cranes and kingfishers are native to this nature reserve. These designated protected areas and species provide specific points of interest for nature lovers choosing where to go on an outing.

The banks of the impounded Spree in Klein Döbbern feature sandy beaches, playgrounds, and swimming and boating jetties. There is also a volleyball court, table tennis tables, bicycle rental, a mini-golf course and an observation tower. A range of leisure activities by the water is available here. If you would rather spend your time walking, the park on the Teehäuschengelände in Frauendorf is another place to visit. Located between the Mühlengraben and the Spree, the park invites visitors to take a stroll.

A variety of activities in the municipality

In Bagenz, visitors can go for walks, swim, play volleyball, cycle and fish. The Thunder Horse Ranch offers rides in the surrounding area and riding lessons. Carriage and covered wagon rides can also be booked through the Glatzer family. These options offer different kinds of activities, from waterside recreation and horse riding to a carriage or covered wagon ride. Check directly with the relevant provider to confirm current availability.

This lets you choose a destination within the municipality to suit your interests, without having to make any one type of activity the focus of your stay.

Spree-Neiße as a wider travel destination

The wider Spree-Neiße destination offers further landscape and cultural attractions. The East German Rose Garden in Forst (Lausitz) is a 17-hectare park where visitors can admire tens of thousands of roses in almost 1,000 varieties. For a cycling trip, the Spreeradweg offers a different perspective: it crosses the Spree-Neiße region for about 60 kilometres and runs mostly along paved river dykes. The Lower Lusatian Mining Tour passes active open-cast lignite mines and landscapes recultivated after mining. The gardens, river route and post-mining landscapes each appeal to different regional interests.

Spree-Neiße also offers opportunities to explore its cultural heritage. The Fürst-Pückler-Weg showcases examples of landscape design from Pückler’s time and the present day. The Sorbian Impressions tour offers insights into the life and traditions of the Sorbian/Wendish minority living in the region. At the Welzow Archaeotechnical Centre, visitors can explore an interactive museum, a large outdoor area and the “People – Wood – Archaeology” exhibition. Events and workshops for the general public are also held there; registration is always required.

Spreewald cuisine includes pickled gherkins in sour, spiced or mustard varieties, linseed oil with quark, yeast pancakes and Spreewald fish. The Spreewald is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a distinctive inland delta landscape. These regional themes add further reasons to explore nature, culture and cuisine alongside the attractions in the municipality.

Discover more destinations: Schmogrow-Fehrow, Schenkendöbern, Kolkwitz, Tauer, Jänschwalde, Peitz, Döbern, Drebkau.

View the wider travel guide: Spree-Neiße.