Hike: Family tour From the crazy prince to cute meerkats

The great Pückler spends an afternoon with cute meerkats, discovers an ancient mammoth tree stump, rides the modern park railway, and then hangs his legs in the water because he is tired!What sounds like a completely crazy journey, you can almost experience the same way. You get to know Prince Pückler, his adventurous lifestyle, his castle, and the park with the pyramids. In Cottbus Zoo, you will be greeted by very small animals, very fast animals, very large animals, very wild animals, and totally cute animals. When you arrive at Spreeauenpark, you will be surprised at how big the park is and that there is a great playground, a mystical forest with a moor landscape, but also lots of flowers. If your feet are tired, you can take a ride. At Cottbus Park Railway, it says All aboard. With the train, you can take a whole round trip along the parks for over three kilometers. When the water playground offers cooling on hot summer days, you will have great fun splashing and playing.How much time and energy do you have? There are several routes that you can complete individually or combine into stages of the hike: Branitz Park – Zoo – Spreeauenpark – Eliaspark with water playground. (Color coding).Your stage hike through the Cottbus parks begins at the parking lot Kastanienallee, very close to Branitz Castle.Tip 1: Already here, you can embark on a separate thematic discovery journey. You can find the description of this special park rally The Secret of the Hidden Number at the service booth. If you are between 6 and 12 years old, exciting tasks await you.The princely manor is surrounded by a high wall. Look for the passage closest to the parking lot and then walk left. Your destination is the small playground with a sandbox and a trampoline.Question 1: What shape does a pyramid represent?Question 2: How many pyramids do you see from the trampoline?From this pyramid, turn right onto the asphalt road until you reach the gate. On the way, you will discover the kiosk Kleiner Cavalier, where you can refresh yourself.Question 3: What are the characteristics of a cavalier? Do you know cavaliers?Can you already see the entrance sign to Branitz Park?Question 4: What colors does the sign have? What is the princes favorite color?Follow the path to the Marstall. The purpose of this building is not immediately apparent.Question 5: Do you have an idea of what a Marstall is? If not, look closely. You will find the right clues on the roof.Its only a few steps to Branitz Castle. Prince Pückler and his wife Lucie once lived here. The castle is still furnished today as the princely couple knew it. Oriental rooms, dining and breakfast rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a huge library tell about the princely lifestyle in the 19th century.Question 6: How do you recognize a castle? Name at least three characteristics that you know from fairy tales.Question 7: How many castle windows do you count only on the side with the wide staircase and the blue portal?Question 8: Estimate how many rooms the prince and his princess had available on the 1st and 2nd floors of the castle?Now walk all around the terrace of the castle and discover the wild animals.Question 9: What material are they made of?If you want to continue walking in the park, you must walk left around the castle and stop at the white wooden bridge. Now see if you can spot a blue open pavilion, which is your next destination. In the summer, the gilded bust of the opera singer Henriette Sontag shines there. In winter, you will only see the pavilion.Question 10: What sleek and fast reptile guards Henriette Sontag in the pavilion?A park as large as this one with its many trees, bushes, and flowers requires a lot of care. Therefore, diligent gardeners are busy all year round pruning trees, planting flower bulbs, and maintaining the extensive lawns. They have their own nursery, which is your next destination. Walk along the path and leave the castle on your right, soon you will see the bluish shimmering panes of the nursery. You can only answer the next question if you are standing right in front of the greenhouse.Question 11: What tropical fruit adorns the roof?Back on the main path, two wild animals almost jump at you. Are you brave? Then put your fist into the mouth of the lions and have yourself photographed. You survived with all your fingers, hands, and arms intact. Continue on the main path to the large green gate. Celestial bodies are placed on the roof of the gatehouse and a column.Question 12: Which ones are they? Sun Moon StarsNow, dont leave the park through the big gate, but look for the sign indicating the path leading to the pyramids. Follow this main path to Kugelberg. You will recognize the Kugelberg well.Question 13: Feel the sphere, and then you will know what material it was made of. Metal Wood StoneNow look around. Do you see a small wooden structure nearby?Question 14: What shape does it have? Does it look like: a parasol? a ship? a pineapple?Question 15: Walk to this structure and count your steps on the way. How many steps do you need approximately? about 150 to 200 about 1785 to 1871 about 10,213 to 12,999 Can you imagine what the structure was used for in the past? Prince Pückler was a great lover of horses and could observe the racetrack well from the stone bench on the hill.Now leave the hill on the other side via a winding path. Look for a wooden bridge that you cross with large steps. Once you arrive on the other side, you have a great view of two special attractions in the park. If you have ever been to Egypt, these two sights will surely look familiar to you.Question 16: Compare both pyramids and find three differences.Now the path leads you between the pyramids to the Egyptian Bridge.Question 17: Why did Prince Pückler choose this name exactly? Because he had no other idea? Because he liked the Orient so much? Because Egypt is a district of Cottbus? After the bridge, take the small path to the right along the shore of the Pyramid Lake and after a few steps, you will reach the Egyptian Stairs leading down to the water. From there, you have a great view of the lake pyramid, which is sometimes also called a tumulus. Prince Pückler was known for his crazy ideas. He had this very special building erected as his tomb for Europe.Now walk along the Pyramid Lake towards the exit of Branitz Park. Before that, you will discover a small island in the lake. There are names and years written on a stone.Question 18: What was the first name of the princes wife? Laura Lotte LucieQuestion 19: Who of the two lived longer? Prince PrincessYour final steps in Branitz Park lead you over two wooden bridges. Be careful! Then cross a very busy street and the tracks of the park railway. And you have arrived at the entrance area of the zoo and Spreeauenpark.Tip 2: If your feet are tired, then a round trip with the park railway from Zoo station is a good relaxation. The small train is already over 60 years old and leisurely passes by the zoo, Spreeauenpark, Branitz Park, and up to Eliaspark.Question 20: Estimate the total length of the park railway route. a) 3.2 m b) 3.2 km c) 32 kmMore than 1,200 animals await you at Cottbus Zoo. Discover the smallest animals, but also the largest during your tour.Tip 3: You can also enjoy the extra puzzle fun of the zoo school for your discovery tour. Just ask at the zoo ticket office. The puzzle fun is available for children up to the 2nd grade and for the slightly older ones from the 3rd grade.Question 21: Give a hint: what is the largest animal living in Cottbus Zoo? The correct answer you will easily discover. a) Elephant b) Giraffe c) HippopotamusNow walk along the main path to the left until you see the camels. You can recognize them by their two humps.Question 22: How much do fully grown camels weigh? a) 80 to 100 kg b) 200 to 220 kg c) 400 to 600 kgCan you already hear the next animal? It should be recognizable by its trumpet sound. Otherwise, walk to its enclosure, where many visitors are already observing the popular pachyderm.Question 23: What can the gray giants do with their trunk? List at least three functions.Now head towards the forest playground and restaurant. The predator house is a bit off to the left before that. In front of the restaurant, you will discover a completely motionless but very popular animal among all visitors. Be brave and climb on its back! Your companions will be happy to take a family memory photo.Now think about the last Harry Potter movie you watched. A few meters further on the right, you will find an animal that is responsible for delivering mail to Harry and his friends.Question 24: Which animal could that be? a) Cat b) Owl c) ReindeerOn the way to the petting zoo, you will encounter cute tuxedo wearers.Question 25: Do you already know who has this nickname?Question 26: On which continent are these animals usually native, which now have their home in Cottbus Zoo? a) Asia b) Africa c) South AmericaNow you have almost reached the petting enclosure and the large playground. Plan a little more time here since there is a lot to experience: petting animals, playing on the playground, and getting very close to the cows, pigs, and chickens.Keep going! Follow the signs towards Ring-tailed lemurs, wild boars, and gibbons.Before you reach the cute ring-tailed lemurs with their big and round eyes, you can take a short detour to the elegant flamingos. They like to spice up their diet with crustaceans. When they eat enough shrimps, they turn a beautiful pink due to the pigment contained in them.The ring-tailed lemurs are the favorite animals of all visitors. They are quite easy to recognize thanks to their conspicuously ringed bushy tails.Question 27: Ring-tailed lemurs are quite small animals. Can you estimate how much a fully grown lemur weighs? 2-3 kg 10-11 kg 18-19 kg Now continue along the path, and with a bit of luck, you can already recognize the next animals by their sound.Question 28: Which animals are known for their grunting? Cats Pigs Camels Its almost a bit wintry. Find the enclosure of the animals that pull Santa Clauss sleigh in fairy tales and stories.Question 29: What are these animals called?Surely, you have seen porcupines before? They are found in parts of Asia, Africa, and even Southern Europe.Question 30: How long can the quills of the porcupines grow approximately?You will pass by several animal enclosures and discover familiar species, but also perhaps new ones. Cottbus Zoo specializes in breeding waterfowl.Question 31: What do all birds have in common at least? Wings and claws Fur and snout Gills and scales Take a few steps and look around carefully. The cute meerkats move on the ground and in caves.Question 32: How long are the tails of adult meerkats? 19 to 24 cm 55 to 55 cm 102 to 107 cm Now head to the exit of the zoo. At the end of the tour, the kangaroo enclosure awaits you. You surely know how a kangaroo moves. Show your companions that you can do it too.You have seen many of the 1,200 animals living here in the zoo. You have learned why there are two pyramids in the middle of Germany that are otherwise typical for Egypt.Now you have two options: You have little time and your feet hurt. In this case, we recommend the return journey through Branitz Park to the starting point. If you are still fit and have planned enough time, then the next stage will take you through Spreeauenpark with playground and tertiary forest, Eliaspark with water playground, and Kiekebuscher Allee back here. Only then will your return journey through Branitz Park begin.To 1. Return via Branitz Park: Cross the street and walk through the park towards the water pyramid to the Egyptian Bridge. On the right, you will see the prominently located Land Pyramid on a hill. Go up and circle it. You will already see our next destination. It is the Hermannsberg, which you can reach via the wooden bridge.After the bridge, start a little competition with your companions: Who will reach the top of the mountain first along the railing? Once the winner is crowned, you can rest at the mountain top and enjoy the view. Hermannsberg is the highest point in the park.Question 33: Estimate its height.Now leave the mountain on the steep, narrow steps in the other direction and follow the park path to the left. The castle will be signposted again a bit later. Be attentive and you will discover a gravestone on the right side of the path dedicated to the princes last mare.Once you have returned to the castle, you will surely find the right way back to the starting point of the hike.To 2. Big round with Spreeauen- and Eliaspark: Next to the zoo exit is the entrance to Spreeauenpark, where the Federal Garden Show took place in 1995. Follow the path right through the kangaroo enclosure, whose inhabitants you already know from your zoo tour, into Spreeauenpark. Follow the path towards the meadow park at the next bridge with a white railing. Colorful play and sports equipment are clearly visible. This place is your next destination for an active break.Question 34: Have you already spotted the climbing wall? Then count the colorful grips!Question 35: Can you conquer the climbing rope wall? Then count the squares formed by the ropes. How many are there? 10 25 35Question 36: Now continue along the main path. Can you recognize which animal is happily waving at you from the wall of the Spreewald House? Otti - the otter Bello - the St. Bernard Minka - the cuddly cat Now the main path leads you to a small intersection with staggered paths. To the right, you will reach the park café and the stop of the park railway. However, your path leads left over another bridge with a white railing towards the tertiary forest with the mammoth tree stump. Find the next sign Exit/Zoo after about 200 m. At the sign, turn right and you will almost be at the tree stump. It is ancient and a rare treasure for all researchers.Question 37: Estimate how old the tree stump is. 80 years 100,000 years 15 million years To enter the mysterious tertiary forest, pass between the two steel beams of the pavilion and cross a wooden footbridge to the left. A mysterious moor landscape awaits you. The very brave can stop at the next bench and answer a question.Question 38: How tall can trees in the moor grow? Up to 5 m Up to 50 m Up to 500 m Follow the path a few steps and then turn right over two wooden footbridges. Pay attention, there are no railings! At the next small intersection, head left to leave the tertiary forest.Once you have passed the high hedge, you will come across a special building.Question 39: What animal does its shape remind you of? Spider Turtle Hippopotamus Welcome to the stage of the park pavilion. Young artists first! Here you have the unique opportunity to perform songs, dances, or tricks.Your next destination is the terrace on the opposite side of the park pond with seating and lounging options, which you can see well from the stage. Two paths lead around the water to the terrace. You can use both.Question 40: Do you have an idea of what was here before the Federal Garden Show of 1995? Brown coal mining Festival meadow and practice area for novice drivers Recreation area with a bathing lake The exit of Spreeauenpark is located just before the underpass, through which the tracks of the park railway also pass.In the tunnel, a creature will greet you again, which you already know from Spreeauenpark.Question 41: Do you remember its name?Now you are at the east tribune of the Stadion der Freundschaft (Friendship Stadium). This is where the FC Energie Cottbus football matches take place. Can you imagine that FC Bayern Munich lost to the Cottbus team in the Bundesliga in this very stadium?Question 42: How many times was that? 2 times 6 times 8 times At the end of the grandstand, a small path leads you to the right over the park railway tracks and then immediately left to the main path through Eliaspark. Walk along the path for a few meters. If you see the training ground of FC Energie Cottbus on the left, you are not far from the water playground on the right side of the path.For the hottest days of the year, a visit there is a great tip. Your adult companion will surely appreciate a short break in the shade of the old trees while you have a lot of fun.Now one of the last stages of your hike is coming up. Take the main path through Eliaspark and walk to the right to the large Willy-Brandt-Straße/ Stadtring intersection. Cross the Stadtring very carefully at the traffic light and then turn sharply right onto the small footpath towards the zoo. At the entrance to MesseCottbus, take the straight path on the left through Kiekebuscher Allee. The avenue is lined with tall old trees.Question 43: Can you recognize which tree it is?Now follow the avenue, which is about 600 m long between MesseCottbus and the zoo. With a bit of luck, the park railway will overtake you, and many passengers will wave to you. At the end of the avenue, a small sandy path leads right parallel to the tracks directly to the starting point of your exploration tour. Once you reach the zoo entrance, you might be tempted by an ice cream, a cold drink, a round trip on the park railway, or you can head back through Branitz Park to the Kastanienallee parking lot. Were you able to answer all questions and complete tasks? Congratulations! Now you know the Cottbus parks very well and can tell your friends about them!And what can you discover along the way or with small detours? Visitor center with Branitz manor Branitz Castle and Marstall Water and Land Pyramid Cottbus Park Railway Zoo with playgrounds Spreeauenpark with playground and tertiary forest Planetarium on the