Peitz – fishing and fortress town

Peitz is an old fishing and fortress town with a historic centre. The historic monuments and town centre of Peitz are gradually being renovated or restored. There are lots of fascinating things to find out on a guided tour of the historic town centre.

Peitz is famous for its more than 1,000 hectares of contiguous pond area as well as for the breeding of the famous Peitz mirror carp. In the Middle Ages, the ponds were still used to protect the castle, which was built in the 13th century by the Margrave of Meißen. In the 16th century work began on expanding it to create a fortress, whose striking tower is preserved to this day. Industrial progress has also left its mark on Peitz: the building that was once the original ironworks – built in Classicist style – now houses the Ironworks and Fishing Museum, which provides information about traditional crafts, production methods and the town’s industrial past, as well as its longstanding tradition of fishing.

Other attractive sights in the environs of Peitz include churches, the Teichland Adventure Park, the Dutch mill, Drewitz airfield and Sorbian/Wendish local history parlours (in Drachhausen, Tauer, Jänschwalde and Heinerbrück).

Event highlights include the Fishing Festival on the second weekend of August, the film music night “Sounds of Hollywood” on the 1st Friday in September and the “Großer Fischzug” (close of the annual fishing season) in the second half of October.

In the surrounding villages, Lower Sorbian traditions and customs are kept alive – including Zampern, Fastnacht (carnival), Easter fire and harvest festival. Girls and women wear their traditional costumes at Fastnacht from February to March and at the harvest festival from August to September.