Düben Heath Nature Park

The Düben Heath, located south of Lutherstadt Wittenberg/north of Leipzig, is part of the natural river landscape between the rivers Mulde and Elbe. It is the largest mixed forest area in Central Germany and became a nature park in 1992. Here, many hiking/nature trails traverse beautiful heath forests and moorlands, passing small forest lakes, romantic clearings and tranquil places.

Nature parks cover about 27 percent of Germany’s territory, preserving and developing nature and landscape with and for the people. Created as an initiative of the region’s inhabitants to put a stop to the ever-expanding lignite mining and to protect the remaining nature, the 75,000 hectare Düben Heath Nature Park now offers 500 km of marked trails waiting to be discovered.

Cranes and white-tailed eagles circle over tranquil ponds and gently flowing lakes. The Düben Heath is home to up to 350 different butterfly species and 169 bird species. This nature park is both an oasis for nature lovers and an insider tip for city dwellers.

Besides its natural beauty, the region also offers architectural delights. Visitors will marvel at the dreamy moated castle Reinharz, enjoy the wonderful spas of Bad Schmiedeberg and Bad Düben, and love the historic mills along the way.

Opening hours Naturparkhaus Dübener Heide

April-October:
Monday-Friday 10:00-17:00
Saturday 10:00-16:00
First Sunday of the month 10:00-16:00

November-March:
Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00
Saturday 10:00-13:00

Getting there by bike

Berlin-Leipzig cycle route to Bad Schmiedeberg or Bad Düben

Mulder cycle path to Bad Düben
By bus with bike transfer from Leipzig to Bad Düben

Getting there by public transport
By S-Bahn/train or bus from Halle/Leipzig, Lutherstadt Wittenberg
DB train stations are in Eilenburg, Doberschütz, Mockrehna, Torgau, Bitterfeld, Muldenstein, Burgkemnitz, Gräfenhainichen, Radis, Bergwitz
The Heidebahn runs from 1.4. to 31.10. every Saturday/Sunday from Lutherstadt Wittenberg via Pretzsch, Bad Schmiedberg, Söllichau, Bad Düben to Eilenburg and back

Saxony-Anhalt has a good call bus system on weekends, see www.insa.de.
This site also details other bus connections inside of Saxony.

Hiking in the Düben Heath

Sights

Forest house at Lake Bergwitz (Waldhaus am Bergwitzsee)

The Waldhaus am Bergwitzsee is a direct neighbor of Lake Bergwitz and a magnet in the heath for all friends of nature, offering valuable suggestions and information about the Düben Heath Nature Park. Inside, an exhibition details various aspects of then local nature and also the history of the people of the region.

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House by the lake (HAUS AM SEE)

The Information Center for Environment and Nature Conservation at the Mulde Reservoir tells the story of the transformation from a dredging empire to a natural idyll.

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Pretzsch Castle

Located directly on the Elbe, at the gateway to the Düben Heath, Pretzsch Castle stands out as an imposing Renaissance palace.

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Wood sculptures, Tornau

Always on the last weekend in July, a wood sculpture competition is held to grow the collection of sculptures on the meadow in the Heide Village.

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Reinharz, a moated castle

The moated Reinharz Castle, in the middle of the forest, feels like something out of a fairy-tale.

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Gutsscheune Schwemsal

Die über 150-jährige Fachwerkscheune wurde 2002 neu aufgebaut, womit Schwemsal ein Kultur- und Bildungszentrum mit Eiscafé und Scheuneladen erhielt.

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Nature Park House Düben Heath (Naturparkhaus Dübener Heide)

The "Verein Dübener Heide e.V." and the nature park administration of the Saxon part have their headquarters in the NaturparkHaus Dübener Heide.

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Kurpark Bad Schmiedeberg

Der historische Kurpark Bad Schmiedeberg ist seit vielen Jahrzehnten ein wichtiger Bereich des Kurlebens der Stadt.

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Highlights & Recommendations

Regionale Produkte aus der Dübener Heide

Treats from the Düben Heath

Heidebrand (Heath fire), Dübener Winterschinken (Düben winter ham) and Medick’sche Pumpernickel – these and other euphonious and, above all, tasty specialties are real treats from the Düben Heath and available from more than a dozen producers and traders in the park.

www.naturpark-duebener-heide.com

Heath Sunday

Selected places of excursions always invite you to visit the Dübener Heide Nature Park on the first Sunday of the month with special offers.

info@naturpark-duebener-heide.com

Nature tours

Visit us to experience and discover nature as an individual, a group, a family or a club on a hike through the Düben Heath. We especially recommend our wildlife weeks in spring and autumn.

The Luther path (Lutherweg)

Discover historical places connected to the Reformation and experience them in your own personal way. The Lutherweg, which also leads through the Düben Heath Nature Park, is a great option for people that want to go on a journey of prayers or on a meditative pilgrimage.

Traversing the World Heritage region on the Lutherweg