From Miner to Sailor

The decades-long transition from a surface mining region to a lakeland scenery can be experienced in a time-lapse. Europe’s largest man-made aquatic landscape is emerging in the Lusatian Lake District with more than 20 flooded lakes and navigable canals. The bicycle tour is recommended for cyclists who wish to experience the landscape transformation in the Lusatian Lake District in a day. It begins on the shore of Lake Großräschener See, which is almost completely flooded. It leads past the operational Welzow-Süd surface mine with its large-scale equipment, along the rugged shores of future lakes via navigable canals, to the "Rusty Nail" observation tower, and on to Lake Senftenberger See, which has been attracting bathers and water sports enthusiasts for more than four decades. 

Length: 56 kilometres

Start/finish: Großräschen, IBA Terraces, Seestrasse 100 (Coordinates 51,574615N, 14,005850E)
via: Dörrwalde, Allmosen, Bahnsdorf, Welzow, Lieske, Kleinkoschen, Senftenberg, Sedlitz

Cycling-by-numbers
Cyclists going on the full-day tour “From Miner to Sailor” can use the new signposting system based on intersection numbers. You will go past the following intersections, if you choose Großräschen/IBA Terraces (intersection 22) as your start/finish point: 22 - 56 - 53 - 9 - 1 - 51 - 50 - 45 - 34 - 32 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 47 - 48 - 21 - 49 - 62 - 54 - 22

Trail conditions: The circuit is mainly on asphalted cycle paths, with a few sections also on side roads or firm, gravel roads. The route is mostly flat and only slightly undulating along some sections.

Points of interest along the route

• Lake Großräschener See with its visitor centre IBA Terraces, pier, vineyard and town harbour in Großräschen
• Dörrwalder Mill
• Welzow-Süd surface mine
• Rosendorfer Canal
• Lake Sedlitzer See
• Sornoer Canal
• Lusatian Lake District landmark
• Koschener Canal
• Lake Senftenberger See
• Amphitheatre on Lake Senftenberger See
• Senftenberg town harbour
• Senftenberg Palace and Fortress
• Ilse Canal

Parking: Free at Großräschen railway station and along the road along the lake

Bicycle rental: IBA Terraces Großräschen

Maps/Literature: Radwanderkarte Lausitzer Seenland, 1:50.000, Sachsen Kartographie, ISBN 978-3-86843-021-9, Euro 6.50