Heinersbrück – Malxe, Church and Mining Landscape

Heinersbrück on the Malxe

Heinersbrück lies directly on the Malxe, a tributary of the Spree. The surrounding landscape is strongly shaped by lignite mining and energy production. Thus, two clear points of reference come together in descriptions of the town: its location on the river and the character of a region shaped by mining and energy generation. This can help you decide whether you are more interested in the riverside setting, local culture or the influence of mining when choosing a destination for your stay.

Church and traditions

The Evangelical Church of Heinersbrück is a two-aisled brick church. It was built in 1900/1901 to a design by Cottbus architect Robert Beutler. Its two-aisled design is considered unique in the region. The interior furnishings have been almost entirely preserved in their original state, with the exception of the organ. Its design, construction date, architect and preserved interior furnishings give the church a clearly defined character.

Sorbian/Wendish traditions are maintained in Heinersbrück throughout the year. Cultural highlights include the carnival, the raising of the maypole and Hahnrupfen (cock plucking). Both the church building and these living traditions offer tangible ways to get to know the town.

Mining landscape and getting your bearings locally

Lignite mining can be observed from the viewpoint: visitors can see excavators mining lignite from depths of up to 80 metres. This view offers a clear example of how mining has shaped the surrounding landscape. Together with the Malxe, it reveals another side of Heinersbrück, beyond the church and its traditions.

The playground in Heinersbrück is open to the public. There is a car park on Wiesenweg, directly behind it.

Spree-Neiße as the wider regional setting

Within the wider Spree-Neiße destination, the lowland around Peitz and Heinersbrück is considered the eastern extension of the Spreewald landscape and is locally known as the Vorspreewald. The Peitz lowlands are characterised by a pond area of around 1,000 hectares and extensive meadows criss-crossed by numerous drainage ditches. The wider Spree-Neiße destination also includes the Spreewald: a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a distinctive inland delta landscape.

Regional themed routes also offer a range of different focuses. The Spree Cycle Route crosses the Spree-Neiße region for around 60 kilometres and runs mostly along paved river dikes. The Lower Lusatian Mining Tour passes active lignite mines and reclaimed landscapes. The Fürst-Pückler-Weg showcases examples of landscape design from Pückler’s time and the present day; the Sorbian Impressions tour offers insights into the life and traditions of the Sorbian/Wendish minority in the region.

Other themes in the wider Spree-Neiße destination range from garden culture to archaeology. The East German Rose Garden in Forst (Lausitz) is a 17-hectare park where visitors can admire tens of thousands of roses in almost 1,000 varieties. The Welzow Archaeotechnology Centre is an interactive museum with extensive outdoor grounds and the exhibition “People – Wood – Archaeology”.

Discover more destinations: Werben, Turnow-Preilack, Teichland, Felixsee, Neuhausen/Spree, Tauer, Drebkau, Spremberg

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Spree-Neiße.