Forst (Lausitz): Rose Garden, Industrial Heritage and Cycling Routes

Forst (Lausitz) offers a range of themes to consider when planning a trip: cycling along the Lusatian Neisse, paddling on the Mühlgraben, industrial heritage and garden art. If you are looking for a hotel in Forst, the focus of your stay can help you choose your destination. The sights and activities each offer something different—from the history of the former cloth-making town to a large collection of roses.

Cycling and paddling in Forst

Near Forst (Lausitz), the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route runs along the top of the dike beside the Lusatian Neisse. The Mühlgraben offers a different perspective: this man-made town ditch runs through Forst and is open to paddlers. Numerous launch and landing points are marked. This gives you two distinct activities to choose from: a cycling route along the Neisse and a waterway through the town. If cycling is the focus of your trip, the route of the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route is a useful point of reference; for paddling, look to the Mühlgraben and its marked launch and landing points.

Industrial heritage and local history

The Industrial Heritage Trail is a permanent open-air exhibition. Information panels stand at historically significant industrial sites throughout Forst. One guided tour that offers a distinctive perspective on the subject is the “Tour de Forst”: it follows the town’s industrial heritage educational trail and brings the history of the former cloth-making town to life at selected locations.

Regular guided tours are offered in Forst. Families, groups and clubs can request dates of their choice to explore the town on foot, by bike, in the East German Rose Garden or at the Forst Museum. Check the latest dates before your trip and submit requests for specific dates in good time. This lets you choose between exploring independently and requesting a guided tour based on what is available.

The Rose Garden and nature nearby

The East German Rose Garden in Forst (Lausitz) covers 17 hectares. Tens of thousands of rose bushes grow there, representing almost 1,000 varieties. This historic park combines garden art, botanical diversity and landscape architecture. Its size and variety of roses give the park a different character from the town-history themes of the Industrial Heritage Trail.

The Euloer Bruch lies northwest of Forst, in the area surrounding the destination. This lowland landscape, covering about 83 hectares, is a refuge for many rare and endangered plant and animal species. It invites visitors to explore nature on foot. The Rose Garden and the Euloer Bruch offer different perspectives on plants and landscapes: in the park, as part of garden art and landscape architecture; in the Bruch, as a habitat for rare and endangered species.

Cycling, museums and planning your visit

Forst’s cycling and equestrian stadium features a 400-metre cement oval. National and international cycling competitions are held there, as they were in the past. The Museum of Textile and Industrial History of Lusatia focuses on the region’s textile and industrial history. Each offers a different way to explore its subject: the stadium through cycling, and the museum through industrial and textile history.

Forst (Lausitz) outdoor swimming pool is located at Ringstraße 7, 03149 Forst (Lausitz). Check the latest operating information before your visit.

Spree-Neiße as a regional setting

The wider destination of Spree-Neiße offers additional routes and themes for exploring the region. The Spree Cycle Route crosses the Spree-Neiße region for about 60 kilometres and runs mostly along paved river dikes. The Lower Lusatian Mining Tour passes active lignite mines and landscapes reclaimed after mining. The Prince Pückler Route showcases examples of landscape design from Pückler’s time and the present day. The Sorbian Impressions Tour offers insights into the lives and traditions of the Sorbian/Wendish minority living in the region. These regional themes complement specific attractions in Forst, such as the Rose Garden, the Industrial Heritage Trail and the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route.

Discover more destinations: Peitz, Turnow-Preilack, Groß Schacksdorf-Simmersdorf, Werben, Burg, Heinersbrück, Jänschwalde, Spremberg

Back to the regional travel overview: Spree-Neiße.