Hikes through the Spa Town of Bad Liebenwerda - Passing Mushrooms, Berries and Ponds

At the dam of the Schwarze Elster River, the trail leads to the new weir built in 2007 with a fish ladder and a punting boat landing stage. A good two kilometres on is the Elsterdamm dam, also known as the Elster Cycle Path, Tour-Brandenburg and the EE7. Then you reach Zeischa. At this stage, hikers have already left behind a shallow river landscape branching out in different directions. The sight of water birds is guaranteed. The route leads along Bahnhofsstrasse directly through the town, past beautiful houses and colourful front gardens, and then continues along Waldbadstrasse. After about six kilometres you reach the Waldbad Zeischa forest bathing area – where an admission fee is charged – with a restaurant, parking, bathing platform, slide and sandy bathing area. There is seating on the shores of the lake where you can catch your breath before continuing towards the Bundesstrasse 101 and finally into the forest.

The attractive red colour of the cranberries and smell of mushrooms comes from under the trees. Blueberries and later wild raspberries are an additional hiking pleasure. The many wild flowers magically catch your eye. The trail marked with a small white-red-white sign leads towards the village of Dobra.

After eight kilometres, hikers are greeted by a dovecote and a church behind a large lime tree and chestnut tree. The idyll can be best enjoyed from a slight elevation. Then the tour continues through the village, passing the school yard and paddock towards the bypass. The stretch towards the Maasdorfer Teiche ponds is fantastically beautiful. A nature trail, a good 100 metres earlier, leads along a forest path to the fish ponds. The trail swings through the meadows to the right and continues in between the ponds towards the village of Maasdorf. Jumping fish, families of ducks, a pair of swans and usually lots of anglers can be observed.

A few hundred metre further on you will be able to see the Kleine Elster River. To do this, you need to turn off the road into the forest after a short distance. The trail leads along the course of the river parallel to the road towards the bathing area in Maasdorf. The romantic Landhaus Bolde farm and Café Anna near the bathing area are an ideal place to have a rest. Many hikers, cyclists and water tourers have come to appreciate the bathing area with an outdoor oven, information boards, seating and a punting boat landing stage. - You have now completed about twelve kilometres.

Passing the farm shop, the stork’s nest and the Parkschlösschen hotel, the route heads directly to the Elster “Natou-reum”. There guests can enjoy the Elbe-Elster district “with all their senses” according to the brochure. The miniature district, illustrations of fauna and flora and the large garden railway and adventure playground are attractions for children and adults.

Passing by the quaint Keilerschänke inn and restaurant on the left, the route continues to the right under the old B101 past a garden area and the “Waldhaus” children’s nursery to a more built-up area of Bad Liebenwerda. There are several ways to get to the Haus des Gastes information centre in the spa gardens. One recommendation is to take the route via Heinrich-Heine-Strasse towards Schlossäckerstrasse to treat yourself to a refreshment in the Eiscafé “BaLiDa” ice cream parlour.

After passing the railway crossing heading towards the town centre, the route turns left onto the Elsterdamm dam towards your destination. Another view over the Schwarze Elster River to the Fontana Clinic, the “Garten der Sinne” sensory garden, the Wäldchenbrücke bridge and into the spa gardens – you will have reached the Haus des Gastes information centre and the “Schweizer Garten” restaurant. Now just cross the street to get to the starting point, the parking at the Lausitztherme leisure complex.

A final dip at the thermal spa will give you renewed energy. You have covered a distance on almost 18 kilometres on foot – and you will keep many memories in your mind that you won’t easily forget.

Start/finish: Bad Liebenwerda
via: Zeischa, Dobra, Maasdorf