Senftenberg: Castle, Lake and Garden City

Senftenberg encompasses Lake Senftenberg and its six districts. If you’re looking for hotels in Senftenberg, you can plan your excursions around culture, industrial history, cycling or activities on the water. The castle and art collection are located in the town center’s castle park; other attractions can be found in Brieske, Großkoschen or at the town harbor.

Castle, Fortress and Art Collection

The Senftenberg Castle and Fortress Museum and the Lausitz Art Collection are located in the castle park in the town center, between the market square and the town harbor. The Renaissance complex was built on the foundations of a medieval castle in the 16th century to secure the Saxon border. The site therefore brings together architectural history and fine art as distinct themes to explore.

The Lausitz Art Collection comprises more than 2,500 works by over 130 painters, graphic artists and sculptors. These include works by Ernst Barlach and Carl Lohse. The castle takes you back to the history of border security and a medieval fortress; the collection offers a distinct perspective on the region’s art. If you’re interested in both, you’ll find them in the same castle park.

Garden City of Marga and Senftenberg’s History

The Garden City of Marga is located in Senftenberg’s Brieske district. Built in the early 20th century in the late Art Nouveau style as housing for workers at Ilse Bergbau AG, it is considered Germany’s oldest garden city. You can explore its history on foot or by bicycle at 11 stations using a modern interactive and wayfinding system.

The tourist information office also offers a puzzle tour for the whole family. A short walk takes you from Senftenberg’s historic town center to Lake Senftenberg, and the tour is available for a nominal fee of €1.00. The two activities offer different focuses: Marga tells the story of a workers’ settlement, while the puzzle tour connects the historic town center with the lake.

Town Harbor, Lake and Water Sports

Senftenberg Town Harbor offers berths for up to 120 pleasure boats, along with the associated service facilities. A viewing balcony at the harbor offers views of Lake Senftenberg. The harbor is also the starting point of the Seenland Route.

At Hafencamp in Senftenberg’s Großkoschen district, Expeditours offers taster courses in sailing and stand-up paddleboarding. Rowboats, pedal boats, canoes, sailboats and motorboats are also available for hire there. Availability may vary; check in advance if a particular course or type of boat is important to your plans. The passenger ship “Santa Barbara” operates on Lake Senftenberg and allows cyclists to shorten part of the loop. Check the timetable for your specific trip.

Plan Cycling Routes and Excursions

The loop around Lake Senftenberg is 18 kilometers long and recommended for cyclists. Senftenberg’s Großkoschen district is recommended as both the starting point and the destination. The loop is a specific option for a bike ride by the lake; the passenger ship can help cyclists shorten part of the route. Groups can also request a custom guided tour of Senftenberg.

The Koschen Canal is nearby. It is the first navigable waterway in the Lusatian Lake District and connects Lake Senftenberg with Lake Geierswalde. The canal is a destination in its own right if you’re interested in the waterways between the lakes; the connection described runs between these two named lakes.

The Wider Region: Oberspreewald-Lausitz

There are also routes to explore in the wider Oberspreewald-Lausitz travel destination. Hiking routes in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district range from 4 to 32 kilometers. Cycling routes start at 40 kilometers; options include self-guided or guided multi-day tours with good places to stop and eat. More than 580 kilometers of signposted cycle paths link regions between the Spreewald and the Kmehlener Berge, as well as connecting southern Brandenburg with Saxony and northern Brandenburg.

When planning, you can choose between the 18-kilometer loop around Lake Senftenberg and longer cycling routes in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district. If you’d like to combine a bike ride with a stay in Senftenberg, these details offer different options for short and multi-day tours.

Discover more destinations: Hosena, Großkoschen, Altdöbern, Laasow, Schipkau, Gosda, Lübbenau/Spreewald, Raddusch.

Back to the regional travel overview: Oberspreewald-Lausitz.