Discover Welzow

Welzow offers a range of ways to explore its changing landscape, archaeology and fire service history. The “excursio” visitor center is located in the former railway station in the town center. Further insights can be found at the Archaeotechnical Center, the open-cast mine-themed playground and the Welzow Fire Service Park. The active open-cast mine and the recultivated landscape are also among the topics covered in connection with the destination.

Information and experience tours

At the “excursio” visitor center, you can find information about tours ranging from the changing landscape to the Lusatian Lake District, as well as other activities and events in and around Welzow. The center brings together different themes without narrowing them down to a single focus for an excursion. Experience tours regularly set off for the active Welzow-Süd open-cast mine and the post-mining landscape. This presents active lignite mining and the landscape after mining as distinct perspectives. If you are planning a specific tour, check the dates in advance.

Archaeology and hands-on activities

The Archaeotechnical Center Welzow is a hands-on museum with a large outdoor area. The exhibition “People – Wood – Archaeology” has a distinct focus and complements the events and workshops in the annual program. These activities are aimed at the general public; registration is required for events and workshops. If you have a particular activity in mind, check its date when planning and register. This lets you consider a museum visit and a specific program activity as separate options.

Playground and fire service history

The open-cast mine-themed playground is for children of all ages and offers a variety of play options. These include creative climbing structures and interactive media about the open-cast mine and the surrounding nature. Through these activities, children can learn more about the town’s history and the open-cast mine. Play and learning are therefore both central to the experience.

A different theme awaits you at the Welzow Fire Service Park. It houses one of Germany’s largest collections of fire service history. Exhibits include historic fire engines, equipment, uniforms and a fire service tank. The Fire Service Park is open seasonally on weekends; check the current opening hours before your visit.

Viewpoints at the Welzow-Süd open-cast mine

Several viewpoints along the edge of the Welzow-Süd open-cast mine offer views of the mine and the recultivated landscape. From the “Süd” viewpoint, you can see the coal seam, the F60 overburden conveyor bridge and other bucket-wheel excavators at work. The viewpoints thus offer a look at both aspects that distinguish the experience tours: active mining and the landscape that was recultivated after mining.

More highlights in the wider Spree-Neiße destination

The wider Spree-Neiße destination also offers distinctive landscape and cultural highlights. The Spree Cycle Route crosses the region for about 60 kilometers, mostly along paved river dikes. The Lower Lusatian Mining Tour passes active lignite mines and recultivated 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 lives and traditions of the Sorbian/Wendish minority living in the region.

The East German Rose Garden in Forst (Lausitz) offers another perspective on the wider destination: this 17-hectare park features tens of thousands of roses in almost 1,000 varieties. The regional examples therefore have clearly distinct focuses—from cycle routes and post-mining landscapes to landscape design, cultural traditions and a rose collection.

Discover more destinations: Groß Schacksdorf-Simmersdorf, Hornow-Wadelsdorf, Kolkwitz, Spremberg, Forst, Döbern, Tauer, Werben.

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