Brickyard and Train Klein Kölzig
The impressive brickworks with a completely preserved ring kiln is the only one still in existence in the Muskau Arch region. In 2005, the venerable building was reconstructed – and since summer 2020, the office of the EGTC ltd. Geopark Muskau Arch has been located on the first floor. On guided tours, visitors gain insights into the production processes marked by heavy manual labour and are let into the secret of why the building survived the difficult period after production ceased.
The old brickyard railway, which brought the valuable raw material from the surrounding clay pits, can also be admired on the brickyard site. The Klein Kölziger Brickyard Railway association has reconstructed existing railway lines and built new ones, and has kept the railway buildings and installations in working order. Today, visitors can ride on about 2 km of track again – with the new diesel locomotives and the light railway’s seated trolleys on the new circuit around the brickworks pond, they can also gain an insight into the entire area that has been transformed by the mining industry.
Rail journey and brickworks tour by arrangement with the Brickworks Railway Association.
Muskau Forest Railway Bad Muskau
Today, the Muskau Forest Railway (WEM) is one of the most popular destinations in northern Upper Lusatia. The narrow-gauge railway nostalgically connects the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site Fürst Pückler Park in the spa town of Bad Muskau with Germany’s largest rhododendron and azalea park in Kromlau.
Sunken forests, colourful lakes and rhododendrons – this is characteristic of the Kromlau line, which directly crosses the Old Pit Hermann in the heart of the Muskau Arch and thus makes it accessible. Thanks to the 600 mm narrow-gauge railway, you can thus not only explore the UNESCO Global Geopark on foot or by bike, but also experience it by train, and with increasing popularity.
An outstanding experience is the special trip on the clay railway from the centre of Weißwasser to the observation tower on ‘Schwerer Berg’ hill, where you even get a view of the Nochten open-cast mine and the recultivation area. The terrace restaurant “Zum Hemmschuh” and the railway museum “Anlage Mitte” provide a cosy railway atmosphere in Weißwasser/O.L..
Azalea- and Rhododendron Park Kromlau
The rhododendron park in Kromlau covers an area of approx. 200 ha and is one of the largest parks in Saxony. Winding paths, green gorges
and reflecting waterfleaks make up the charm of the park, which was created by Friedrich Herrmann Rötschke from 1844 onwards. The picturesque place lies in the heart of the Muskau Arch in the middle of the Gieser landscape. The most famous buildings are the Devils Bridge, the Manor House and the Cavalier House.
Cultural and Educational Centre Łęknica
The Cultural and Educational Centre of the UNESCO Global Geopark Muskau Arch is located in a historic industrial building in Łęknica and serves as a tourist advisory centre. It is the seat of several organisations, including the Polish branch of the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation ltd Geopark Muskau Arch and the Polish association Geopark Łuk Mużakowa.
The location along the cycle path is in close proximity to two major attractions in Łęknica – Muskau Park and the Old Babina Mine- and is an excellent starting point for excursions into the Geopark.
Erratic Boulder Park Nochten
At the beginning of the millennium, a park landscape unique in Europe was created in Lusatia in Saxony. The Nochten erratic boulder park is not only a popular destination for amateur geologists and botany enthusiasts, but also an adventure for the whole family. Almost 1.5 million visitors have explored the extraordinary stone kingdom since it opened in 2003. 7,000 Scandinavian erratic blocks, embedded in seven picturesquely designed garden worlds, constantly give rise to new, fascinating park images. The touristic park season is accompanied by a variety of events.
Observation Towers and Viewpoints
Experience the Geopark from a bird’s eye view! The special features of the post mining landscape with its countless colourful lakes are best appreciated from a great height.
The tower at Lake Felixee is a wooden-steel construction. In good visibility conditions, the structure with its height of 36 m height guarantees an impressive view of the surrounding area.
A second observation tower is located on the geotouristic path “Former Babina Mine” at the largest body of water of the post mining lake “Afryka”. From the upper terrace, in favourable weather conditions, you can see the mountains to the south.
Visit our interactive map for more viewpoints in the Geopark!
Former Babina Mine Łęknica
The Former Babina Mine in the immediate vicinity of the town of Łęknica is accessible via a geotouristic trail that leads through the area of the former deep and open-cast mines. From 1920 to 1973, lignite and ceramic clays were mined here on an industrial scale. Today, the pits are filled with water and transform the area into a unique post-mining landscape.
School Hostel Jerischke
The Jerischke school hostel attaches great importance to sustainable environmental awareness. Especially the environmental education projects offer guests the opportunity to experience nature with all their senses and to actively participate in it.
Important natural science topics such as environmental education are offered – this is taught in a practical way in nature, but also the history of the Ice Age and the resulting Muskau Arch are presented in a lively and nature-oriented way.
It serves as a contact point and information centre for citizens interested in geology and can be used as a starting point for excursions into the Muskau Arch Geopark.
Devil’s Boulder Trzebiel
Erratic boulders are the most publicly perceived witnesses of our ice ages. They have always inspired people’s imagination.
The Devil’s Boulder near Trzebiel, with an estimated weight of 100 t and a length of 5 metres, is the largest erratic boulder in the Geopark area. It is located in the centre of a pagan and later Slavic cult site. An investigation of the settlement network revealed that within a radius of approx. 3.5 km around the stone, there are no traces of Slavic settlements from before the middle of the 13th century. Everything seems to indicate that the areas around the boulder were a sacred space where it was not possible to build settlements, fields and pastures – a place where gods appeared or stayed and could be worshipped here.
According to a legend, it got its name long ago when the devil in human form tried to marry the beautiful daughter of a miller. However, the miller’s wife recognised the devil and prevented it. Enraged by this, the devil hurled a large stone at the mill, but missed.