Cottbus Spree hike: From Sandow to Madlow

Cottbus and the region are a paradise for bike tours, but increasingly also for hikes on foot. The Spree hike is aimed at visitors who are traveling with public transport and want to explore our city on second glance. The tour guidance is also suitable for cyclists.We lead you from turning loop to turning loop: from Sandow in the east to Madlow in the south. With the tram, you can easily reach the final stop of tram line 2 in Sandow from all districts of Cottbus, from the city center, and from the train station. From there, use the pedestrian and cyclist underpass towards MesseCottbus/Stadion der Freundschaft and walk past the Sandower Dreieck station of the park railway until the next major traffic light intersection (approximately 800 m, Stadtring, corner of Willy-Brandt-Straße). Leave the underpass on the right, cross the first traffic light intersection straight ahead, and then immediately cross the second traffic light intersection on the left over the Stadtring. There is a signpost for various destinations in Cottbus. Continue straight ahead. Here you are already strolling through the Branitz Outer Park. Cross Pyramidenstraße after about 500 m and walk about 50 m into the park. The main path leads you directly to the castle ensemble. However, our route goes along the right path around Bleyerwiese with a view of the Tumulus (Seepyramide). Follow this path to the next fork and turn right towards the exit of Fürst-Pückler-Park Branitz, where there is a small wooden bridge.Cross the street at Bahnhof Zoo carefully and walk parallel to the tracks to the left. After about 400 m, turn right at the end of the zoo enclosure onto a small street, which leads to the zoo administration after about 300 m and straight on to the dike of the Spree. Now take the combined foot and bike path sharply to the left and walk on the dike against the flow until you reach Kiekebuscher Spreewehr. Cross the weir and then follow the path for about 100 m. In the middle of nowhere, you will be surprised by one of Cottbus most beautiful bridges, the Jubiläumsbrücke. It was built in 1913 and handed over by the then mayor Paul Werner on 30.03.1914. The bridge was probably once part of Cottbus irrigation systems. Now cross the bridge and you are already in the Volkspark Madlower Schluchten, a very popular recreational area in Cottbus. Follow this path to the underpass of the railroad bridge directly on the Spree.A few steps uphill and the path leads you straight ahead towards Madlower See (Tip: the circular path around the lake is only about 1 km long). Follow the paved path to the signpost for the bike path Talsperre Spremberg. After about 400 m, you reach the wooden double bridge on the left. There, turn right onto Madlower Schulstraße for about 50 m and leave this street at the left turn. The Madlower Martinskirche is now behind you on the right. At the next two forks, keep right. The Große Mühle path leads you directly to the street Kiekebuscher Weg. Along the road, turn right onto the narrow footpath for about 200 m until the turnoff to Am Depot. There you have reached your destination and are at the turning loop Madlow of the tram. Line 3 takes you to the city center. If you want to go directly to Cottbus Hauptbahnhof, use the Görlitzer Straße stop. From there, its only about 400 m walk.And what is there to discover along the way or with small detours?Historic old town of Cottbus* with Altmarkt, Oberkirche, city wall, bourgeois houses, etc.Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum für moderne Kunst, Wendisches Museum, Brandenburgisches ApothekenmuseumParkeisenbahn Cottbus (round tour with 3.2 km)Fürst-Pückler-Museum Park and Schloss Branitz, Spreeauenpark and TierparkVolkspark Madlower Schluchten with Madlower See (landscape water) and lots of natureThe tour goes over asphalt and paved paths as well as over natural and gravel-covered sections.Start/Finish: Tram end stops Sandow and MadlowLength of the tour: approx. 6 kmTrail markings: partly on the Spreeradweg and tourist signsArrival and Departure Cottbus:Public Transport: with the RE 2 from Berlin or with the RB 65 from Zittau/Görlitz to Hauptbahnhof Cottbus