Gosda: Plins Villages, Craftsmanship and Landscape

Gosda, Weißag and Zwietow lie in a valley shaped by Calau Switzerland and surrounded by meadows and forests. In local parlance, the three villages are also called “Plins villages” or “mountain villages.” Calau Switzerland is part of the “Niederlausitzer Landrücken” Nature Park. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Gosda, this setting can help you choose the focus of your trip: local history, craftsmanship, trails and landscape can be weighted as different interests for your stay.

Plins Villages, Building Culture and Craftsmanship

An especially large number of fieldstone buildings have been preserved in the Plins villages of Gosda, Zwietow and Weißag; their owners have renovated them in recent years. These preserved and renewed buildings give local history a tangible architectural dimension.

In Gosda, André von Martens makes artful vessels using an elaborate black-firing technique. His work is inspired, among other things, by Slavic ceramics and has received several awards. The technique, artistic influences and awards shed light on different aspects of this work. Alongside the history of the buildings, this offers a distinct point of interest for guests interested in ceramics.

Landscape and Trails

The Crane Tour passes through Gosda and Zwietow and is marked with a stylized crane on a yellow background. As route details may change, check the current route before setting out.

The observation platform of the Luckaitztal Brick Tower is 38 metres above the forest floor; 216 steps lead to the top. The shortest walking route starts at the rest area near Weißag. Marked trails also lead to the tower from Werchow and Luckaitztal station. This gives both the platform’s height and specific options for reaching it on foot.

The Calau Switzerland observation tower is made of 93,850 clinker bricks from the nearby Buchwäldchen brickworks, operated by Wienerberger GmbH. In clear weather, the view extends as far as Calau’s town church, Cottbus, Jänschwalde power station, the F 60 visitor mine near Lichterfeld and the Lusatian Highlands. The long-distance view is explicitly dependent on clear weather.

Mills and Their Different Stories

The former Zwietow post mill was built in 1860 and converted into a motor mill in 1937. It is currently used as a museum of rural everyday culture, displaying small-scale farming equipment and household items. Visits and guided tours are available by prior arrangement. If you are planning a visit, confirm the date in advance.

The “Old Mill” is associated with the year 1403 and is still operational today as a buckwheat, grain and sawmill.

The “Fox Mill” is on the Starick family’s property, directly beside the cycle route between the Plins villages of Zwietow and Weißag. Its location on the cycle route gives it a different geographical context from the mill in Zwietow.

Discover more destinations: Schipkau, Großräschen, Laasow, Altdöbern, Lübbenau/Spreewald, Hermsdorf, Senftenberg, Vetschau/Spreewald

For the regional travel overview: Oberspreewald-Lausitz.