Along the Gohrischheiderundweg

Follow the signposting of the Elberadweg onto the Gohrischheiderundweg. Passing through a forest, you reach Jacobsthal. On the left-hand side, at the highest point, stands the Sächsische Triangulationssäule. With the help of the Nagelsches Dreiecknetz, this point became part of a survey that served the creation of maps at a scale of 1:25,000.

On land belonging to Jacobsthal, in April 1941, a prisoner-of-war camp was established on the site of the former Truppenübungsplatz Zeithain, which for many became a camp of death.

Before the church in Jacobsthal, following the path to the right, you soon reach the area where military exercises took place and where three memorial sites still remind us today of this period. For several years now, they have been part of the nature reserve „Gohrischheide und Elbniederterasse Zeithain“. As a result, the areas are able to recover from centuries of military use.

Returning to Jacobsthal, follow the signposting towards Brandenburg. Here you can visit the prisoner-of-war camp. In 1939, the prisoner-of-war camp Stalag IV B was established near the village of Neuburxdorf, which after liberation by the Rote Armee in 1945 continued to operate until 1948 as Speziallager Nr. 1 Mühlberg of the NKWD/MWD.

Continuing along the route, you pass through the villages of Kosilenzien and Kröbeln. Kosilenzien invites visitors to linger and rest with its gastronomy.

On the way to Kröbeln, the „Burgwall zu Cosilenzien“ is impressive; it was created between the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age near the village. This earthwork fortification measured approximately 400 metres in an oval shape and served as a refuge or defensive stronghold.

The route leads back to Sachsen to the small village of Nieska. Here, too, small gastronomic establishments offer cyclists the opportunity to take a rest before continuing through the idyllic pond landscape of Spansberg towards Tiefenau.

The largest town along the Gohrischheiderundroute is Zeithain. Upon arrival, the Feuerwehrmuseum and the Zeithain Memorial Grove invite visitors to learn about the history of the region.

Along the Elberadweg, numerous historically significant villages can also be discovered, including the village of Kreinitz. Kreinitz was first mentioned in 1229. Together with Jacobsthal, it was a subsidiary parish of Lorenzkirch. The church of Kreinitz bears the name of saint Catherine. It is assumed that the village was founded by Flemish colonists under ecclesiastical lordship.

On the banks of the Elbe near Kreinitz, American and Russian troops encountered each other on 25 April 1945. This encounter is documented in the „Museum der Begegnung“ in the Landgasthof Kreinitz.

Continuing along the Elberadweg, you pass through the riparian forest. Visiting it is particularly worthwhile in spring, but also in other seasons.

Special mention should be made of various herbs, such as the Gelbe Windröschen and the Hohle Lerchensporn, which already bloom at a time when the sometimes mighty deciduous trees have not yet developed leaves.

Such large elm trees are now found only rarely in the Saxon region along the Elbe.

Passing Cottewitz towards Lorenzkirch, partly riding through floodplain areas, the town of Strehla greets from the high, opposite riverbank with its church and castle.

Source: Elbe-Röder-Dreieck e.V.