Adventure Paddling in the Spreewald UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

The Spreewald area is a wild and romantic network of more than 1,575 kilometres of small rivers and canals, about 260 kilometres of which are navigable by canoe or boat. Its particular charm lies in the park-like landscape structure which is characterised by small meadows, fields, woods and numerous watercourses as well as the diversity of species it is home to.

Length:
about 85 kilometres / 5-6 days, the tour can start at all three Spreewald locations, such as a round tour from Lübben (Spreewald) via Lübbenau/Spreewald OT Lehde, Burg (Spreewald), Lübben (Spreewald)

Start: Burg (Spreewald)
Finish: Goyatz (Lake Schwielochsee)

Tour extension:
From Burg (Spreewald) to Cottbus (about 20 kilometres): A special feature of this tour is the crossing of the Spree meadow, a structured pond landscape. With a bit of luck, you will see wild horses and aurochs grazing on the banks between the Fehrow Bridge and the Döbbrick Bridge.

Examples of on-shore outings:

• Lübbenau/Spreewald: state-approved resort, historic town centre, castle ensemble with castle, orangery, Marstall and chancellery building as well as English-style landscape garden, Spreewald museum, visitor centre of the biosphere reserve “Haus für Mensch und Natur” (house for humand and nature), Spreewelten bath, punting boat harbours
• Lehde (district of Lübbenau): Spreewald village under monument protection with some historical farmsteads typical for the Spreewald region, interspersed with rivers and canals, farmhouse and cucumber museum, 19th century open-air museum
• Burg (Spreewald): Resort with spa, dispersed settlement with historic farmyards typical of the Spreewald region, punting boat harbours, barefoot park, Bismarck Tower, craft demonstration centre, biosphere reserve visitor centre, Schlossberghof visitor centre, Spa Gardens and Saga Park
• Lübben (Spreewald): Castle with town and regional museum, castle island with aquatic playground and Spree lagoon, punting boat harbour
• Cottbus: historical old market, St. Nikolai upper church, art museum, diesel power station, state theatre, Spree meadow park, Fürst-Pueckler Park in Branitz, Brandenburg pharmacy museum
• Schlepzig/Unterspreewald: Agricultural museum, half-timbered church, historic grain mill, willow dome, “Alte Mühle” visitor centre
• Lake Schwielochsee: Zaue natural campsite, Goyatz harbour terrace, steam engine museum, Zaue fortified church

Lake/river profile:
exceptional water labyrinth, about 260 kilometres of navigable riverways. Observe nature conservation rules! In the core zone of the Spreewald you may not depart from the waterways or paddle down individual riverways; paddling is only allowed until 1 hour after sunset; no motorboats until Leibsch; Spreewald punts always have right of way; lots of branch-offs; numerous smaller manually operated locks, in some cases with boat hoists.

Maps:
Wasserwanderkarte (7. Auflage), Oberspreewald, Maßstab 1:25.000, mit Unterspreewald (bis zum Schwielochsee) Maßstab 1:50.000 und Spremberg-Cottbus-Burg, Maßstab 1:100.000, Price: Euro 4