Energy Tour

Vetschau/Spreewald – “The town with energy”. Up until 1996, the town's appearance was dominated by the lignite-fired power station. Kraftwerkstrasse and the impressive grounds of the former power plant remain as a reminder of this energy-rich period to this day. A modern business park (ITS) has now been established at the former industrial site. One of the town's landmarks is a water tower that is no longer in operation. It was used to maintain the pressure in the drinking water system. The solar sports hall in the school centre features a passive house design, producing more energy than it consumes with its impressive photovoltaic system on the roof.
A recreation area has now been established at Lake Gräbendorfer See which was created from a former open-cast mining site that supplied raw lignite from 1984 to 1992. On the way there you pass the memorial site and cyclist resting point Heilige Quelle Loboschitza, the biomass power plant in Tornitz where more than 1 million tons of biogas are produced every year, and Kśišowka cyclist guest house – which is also fitted with modern photovoltaics, energy-efficient technology and an energy storage system. At a total height of 205 metres, the wind turbine near Laasov was the highest in the world when it was built in 2005. There are now several wind turbines along the route, as well as a large solar panel field with a surface area of 17 hectares dedicated to alternative energy production.

Length: 26 kilometres

Start/finish: Tourist information centre Schlossremise Vetschau/Spreewald

Logo/route sign: not specified

Directions:Train: Take the RE2 from Berlin central station to Vetschau/Spreewald. From here it is a 15-minute walk to the Schlossremise tourist information centreCar: Via the A13 and A15 to Vetschau/Spreewald
Route: Vetschau/Spreewald, Lobendorf, Tornitz, Wüstenhain, Gräbendorfer See, Laasow, Missen, Repten, Vetschau/Spreewald

Points of interest/background information:Vetschau/Spreewald: Palace and park, Schlossremise with exhibition “Wedding Stories”, Wendish-German twin church, NABU White Stork Information CentreLobendorf: listed manor estate, Heilige Quelle LoboschitzaTornitz: Biomass power plantWüstenhain: Historic village centre with church, cyclist guest house KśišowkaLaasow: Church in Gothic style, palace and park, Lake Gräbendorfer SeeMissen: neo-Gothic village churchRepten: Reptener Teiche Nature Reserve and Koßwig peat ditches
Possible combinations: Lower Lusatia Mining Tour, Crane Tour