Peitz: Fortress History and Carp Ponds

Peitz combines the history of its fortress with a long tradition of carp farming. This gives your trip two distinct themes: the fortress remains in the townscape and the cultural landscape of the ponds. Events can also influence when you travel: the jazzwerkstatt takes place annually in Peitz, but its dates vary.

Fortress history in the townscape

The Malzhaus bastion is the only surviving reminder of the former lower fortress that can still be seen in the townscape today. The fortress tower houses a museum with a multimedia exhibition on the former significance of the Peitz fortress. This means that Peitz offers two different ways to explore its fortress history: a surviving remnant of the lower fortress and an exhibition on the fortress’s past significance.

From the approximately 35-metre-high Baroque roof turret of the fortress tower, you can enjoy panoramic views over the town and its surroundings. The viewpoint adds a look at Peitz and its surroundings to the historical theme. The height and view are approximate; the roof turret is about 35 metres high.

Pond landscape and carp-farming tradition

The ponds lie southeast of Peitz, and their use for carp fishing is documented as early as 1577/78. Peitz carp have been farmed for centuries in the 1,000-hectare pond area. Fishing and pond farming are therefore among the town’s defining historical themes.

The approximately 25-kilometre-long Peitz Carp Trail is a circular route through the historic cultural landscape around Peitz. It conveys the town’s history and focuses on traditional carp farming and pond management. Unlike a single historical site, the trail connects these themes with a route through the landscape. Its length is approximate; check the route details before your trip.

Events and travel dates

The dates of the jazzwerkstatt vary from year to year, although the festival takes place annually in Peitz. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check that the event dates match your travel period. In the wider Spree-Neiße travel destination, the “Großer Fischzug” is planned as the highlight of the 13th Peitz Carp Weeks 2026, on 31 October and 1 November. Visitors can watch the fishers at work, learn about fish farming, and try and buy fresh or smoked fish. These dates refer to the 2026 edition.

Spree-Neiße as the wider context

Beyond Peitz’s fortress and pond history, the wider Spree-Neiße travel destination offers a range of different themes. The East German Rose Garden in Forst (Lausitz) is a 17-hectare park where visitors can admire tens of thousands of roses in nearly 1,000 varieties. The Spree Cycle Path crosses the Spree-Neiße region for about 60 kilometres and runs mostly along paved river dikes.

The two route descriptions cover different distances: the Peitz Carp Trail is an approximately 25-kilometre circular route focused on local history, while the Spree Cycle Path crosses the region for about 60 kilometres. The rose garden, in turn, adds a botanical dimension. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose whether you are mainly interested in Peitz’s fortress history and pond management or in other themes across the wider travel destination.

Discover more destinations: Tauer, Heinersbrück, Turnow-Preilack, Neuhausen/Spree, Döbern, Forst, Burg, Werben

Back to the wider travel overview: Spree-Neiße.