Discover Lebus: Views of the Oder, History and Nature

Lebus offers several specific themes to help you plan your trip: views of the Oder from the castle hill, the history of the parish church and a Natura Trail that connects protected areas. Mallnow, a district of Lebus, also has its own points of interest—from spring blossoms on the Oder slopes to information boards about the village’s history.

Cycling between four protected areas

The “Steppe Flora in the Lebus Region” Natura Trail is a 36-kilometre cycling loop. It connects four European-significance FFH sites: the Oderberge Lebus Nature Reserve, the Zeisigberg Nature Reserve, the Preister Gorge and the Oder slopes at Mallnow. The route starts at the car park for the Oderberge Lebus FFH site. This makes the trail a way to visit several protected landscapes on one tour, rather than limiting your visit to a single viewpoint or district.

On its section near Lebus, the Natura Trail follows the Oder–Neisse Cycle Route to the Podelzig-Klessin turn-off. The cycle route is therefore a specific part of the route described, not the name of the entire Natura Trail: the trail comprises the loop and the four connected protected areas. As conditions along the route may change, check its condition before your excursion.

The castle hill and Oder slopes through the seasons

From Lebus Castle Hill, panoramic views stretch along the Oder far into Poland. The castle hill is linked to the old town; the view and river landscape define this part of the town’s character. Those interested in the connection between landscape and local history will find a different focus here than on the Natura Trail: instead of a longer loop, the emphasis is on the expansive views along the river.

The extensive Oder slopes near Mallnow also change with the seasons. In spring, pheasant’s-eye flowers bloom first, followed later by horned pansies and cowslips. The sequence of blooms gives the landscape a clear seasonal character. This differs from the year-round themes of the trail and local history: spring is the defining season for the flowers on the slopes.

Lebus history around the parish church

Below the castle hill stands the parish church, regarded as a landmark of the lower town. Its history is marked by several dates: it was rebuilt in 1806 and served as the town church until 1945. After its destruction during the Second World War, it was rebuilt in its present size in 1954. This sequence makes the church a distinct historical feature of the townscape, encompassing its reconstruction, use as the town church and rebuilding after wartime destruction.

Mallnow: interpreting the landscape and village history

At the southwestern end of Mallnow’s village green is the Adonis Spring, a work by artist Roland Rother. It illustrates the formation of the landscape in fast-forward. The artwork thus complements seasonal nature observation on the Oder slopes with an interpretation of how the landscape was formed. The blossoms and the Adonis Spring both relate to the landscape, but focus on different aspects: one on plants through the seasons, the other on the formation of the landscape.

Brown information boards in Mallnow provide information about the development of the village and its residents. They offer another way to explore the place, this time through its local history. Mallnow also has a petting zoo with enclosures and aviaries where you can see farm animals. If you would like to plan a visit, check the visiting arrangements in advance. This keeps the different themes distinct: nature and cycling, the village’s historical development, and the local animals.

Discover more destinations: Alt Tucheband, Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf, Treplin, Görlsdorf, Seelow, Lietzen, Manschnow, Heckelberg-Brunow.

For the overarching travel overview: Märkisch-Oderland.