Garden City Tour

The circular “Garten City Tour” is 38 kilometres long and will take you from Germany’s first garden city “Marga” in Senftenberg’s district Brieske, via the garden city “Lauta-Nord” to Germany’s youngest garden city “Erika” in Laubusch. You will visit the three garden cities that are protected monuments and that tell a story of the riches of the formerly thriving industrial region. Demand for workers increased rapidly, as mining developed in the Lausitz region. Three attractive works housing estates were created in the early 20th century to accommodate workers. Inspired by the idea of the garden city, the estates are characterised by spacious greens and centres with shops, restaurants and theatres. The garden cities were build for miners and other staff members of the mines “Marga” and “Erika”, and for the workers of the aluminium mill in Lauta-Nord. The goal was to establish residential areas that were functional yet people-friendly and that formed a contrast to the typical workers’ quarters. The bright, spacious estates that are surrounded by gardens and green areas continue to radiate a very particular charm. Taking a look over garden fences and behind hedges is very worthwhile.Length: 39 kilometresStart/finish: Garden city “Marga” in Senftenberg, town district BrieskeLogo/route sign: not specifiedHow to get there:Train: From Berlin Ostkreuz, take the RB24 (rapid transit train) to Senftenberg (about 2 hours)Car: From Berlin via the A13 to Senftenberg (about 1.5 hours)Route: Garden city Marga, Niemtsch, Peickwitz, Hosena, Lauta-Dorf, Lauta-Nord, Laubusch, Geierswalde, Kleinkoschen, SenftenbergPoints of interest/background information:Garden city “Marga”: Market square, former restaurant “Kaiserkrone” (permanent exhibition about the garden city’s history), Martin Luther Church and cemetery chapel, old schoolSenftenberg, town district Peickwitz: Wooden art at “Peickwitzer Hütte”Lauta: GenussManuFakturGarden city “Lauta-Nord”Garden city “Erika” in Lauta, town district Laubusch: Exhibition about the garden city in the cultural centre Laubusch, Church of St Barbara, two-sided panels with pictures of the garden city and the biography of the garden city’s architect Heinrich Ewald Kleffel at three places across the villageGeierswalder See: Floating holiday homesKoschener Kanal and lockSenftenberg: Town harbour, wildlife park, Protestant Peter Paul Church, bathing area Buchwalde, castle and fortressPossible combinationsPrince Pueckler Cycle PathLower Lusatian Mining TourSchwarze Elster Cycle PathLakeland RouteTour BrandenburgTrail conditions/surface: Circular tour with hardly any inclines. Mostly well-developed, asphalted cycle paths and bicycle streets, a few sections on side roads. Most of the trail has a smooth surface.Maps/Literature: “Lausitzer Seenland: Wander- und Radwanderkarte”, 1:50.000, Sachsen Kartographie, Auflage: 8 (30. September 2014), ISBN 978-3-86843-021-9, Euro 5.90