Home » Helpfulness

Surprisingly cool: my short trip to wittenberg – dessau

Site: passenger-x.de

Surprisingly cool: my short trip to Wittenberg & Dessau

There are these regions that I have underestimated for many years of my life, I just have to admit that. For a long time, only the coolest metropolises and most exotic destinations were on my bucket list. They still do, but the more I travel, the more I realize that my home country Germany has a lot to offer. In the Canadian Rockies, I had to think about our forests and wonder why I’m looking for elks like crazy, but hardly pay any attention to deer at home. Am I in a foreign country on the flat land, I mean to have found a restful place, but there are in Germany but also.

The following insight has matured more and more in the last years: traveling is wonderful, even in one’s own country. And so I’ve made some inner-German destinations for this year. In addition to the Harz, Hanover and Leipzig, Saxony-Anhalt is also very involved. The WelterbeRegion Anhalt-Dessau-Wittenberg had invited me in June to take a short trip to Wittenberg and Dessau plus surroundings.

Stop, now do not think again “laaaaangweilig”, we give our home but the well deserved opportunity. Spoiler: it’s worth it!

A long weekend in the WelterbeRegion Anhalt-Wittenberg-Dessau

It only takes two hours from Berlin and you’re in the World Heritage region. Why does she call herself that? 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites are in close proximity to each other. If that is not something!

And so you have come up with something cool: the World Heritage Card.

This is either 24 hours (price 19.90 euros) or three days (price 39.90 euros), allows you to visit all UNESCO sites for free and to benefit from over 70 other benefits. I used them myself during my short trip and I’m really surprised how much is included. So if you are planning a few holidays in Anhalt-Wittenberg-Dessau, you should first think about what you would like to see and if you can not even save a lot with the WelterbeCard. I write to my subsequent tips always where I used the World Heritage Card and what advantage there was.

A journey with obstacles

Before I get to my tips, I have to get rid of one thing: I had unbelievable bad luck with the weather. On three days I had perhaps five sunny hours, the rest of the time it has only rained. That’s why there are not as many photos as usual, and some of them do not do justice to the region due to the gray sky. In the few sunny moments, the environment made a really nice impression, so please do not let a little gray on the photos scare you off.

So, now finally to the tips for the World Heritage region in and around Dessau and Wittenberg.

Wittenberg or correctly “Lutherstadt Wittenberg” celebrated 500 years of Reformation last year. I have to admit it: I and the religion have no special connection to each other. Accordingly, I usually do not care much for theological events. But a bit of general knowledge already has to be and in Wittenberg access to the topic is quite easy. In the small, pretty old town you can still see various contemporary witnesses from Luther’s lifetime, which makes it possible for you to feel in this epoch. In addition, there is an extensive offer to approach the topic more intensively. From my own experience, I can recommend the following sequence to the offers around the topic “Luther and his Reformation” to perceive as much as possible to understand and without tiring of historical facts.

Tips for a day in Wittenberg: Reformation made easy

Start with the best Asisi Panorama. On a huge screen, the city is depicted in Luther’s time. Light and sound effects give you a great idea of ​​how people lived then. Then it goes only a few meters further into Luther house, where you can get a good overview of Luther’s work and his person. If you are after a break, which would be understandable given all the information, you can directly across the street in the very pretty shop Kronhaus come. There is good coffee and delicious cakes here.

Thought: I just have to laugh about myself, how I manage to come back to good coffee places, even when it comes to Luther. You are just who you are and I clearly have a weakness for good coffee.

So now in the program: With sweet-filled stomach and awakened thanks to the caffeine dose, we make ourselves on the last point of our Luther trip. We meet the Türmer before the tourist information and let us lead by this incredibly informed Wittenberger through the city. Now everything fits together. Even for people like me, who tend to be less interested in such topics, the basic knowledge of the Luther House, paired with the audiovisual memories from the Aisis Panorama and the telling tales of the Türmers, gives a detailed overall picture. That’s the way history will be for me at once.

  1. Asisi Panorama
    Opening hours: daily 9am – 6pm
    a public guided tour takes place daily at 11am and 3pm
    Admission 11 Euro, with the WelterbeCard for free
  2. Lutherhaus (plan enough time)
    Admission 8 Euro, with the WelterbeCard for free
    Opening hours: April – October from 9am – 6pm, November – March 9am – 5pm
  3. Coffee break in the Kronhaus
    Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am – 6pm
  4. Guided tour with the Türmer, 10 Euro

A little warning: The Kronhaus does not only serve excellent coffee, it is also a shop with very charming Einrichtungsasseccoires at the same time. A shopping spree can not be ruled out here.

Restaurants in Lutherstadt Wittenberg

For such a place fits for me still the best: the German cuisine. Pork knuckle and farmer’s breakfast, with freshly tapped beer or a good old Fassbrause, that’s how it should be. Or? The right address for such a dinner is the Brauhaus Wittenberg. In the middle of the cozy dining room are the copper brewing kettles – it does not feel quaint. Who is less on haxe, but more on potato, must go to the potato house. From sweet potato soup, over baked potatoes to Quarkkeulchen – here there is everything that the potato just so – delicious.

Among us: this dish was eaten by my hero, I chose the potato soup … vegetarian and such

Brewhouse Wittenberg
For all beer fans, there are always Friday and Saturday at 16 o’clock and Sunday at 11 o’clock guided tours, price 13 Euro per person
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 11 o’clock

Potato house Wittenberg
Opening hours:
Monday till Thursday & Sunday: 11 am – 10 pm
Friday & Saturday 11am – 0am

Staying in Wittenberg: a very special apartment

Personally, I am not the hotel fan, so I called loudly “Apartment” when asked me the World Heritage Region e.V, as I would like to spend the night in Wittenberg. That I had done everything right, I realized when I the apartment in the Cranachhaus entered. Wow!

This is exactly to my taste. Large rooms with high ceilings, equipped with everything you need and at the same time with the charm of bygone times. Long ago, who would have thought, Cranach lived with his family in the Cranach Haus. This was the court painter Friedrich the Wise and one of the most important German artists. Even today, some of his paintings hang in prestigious international museums. At that time the translation of the Bible for Luther was also reproduced in his printing house. An important man of his time, then. Information about his life’s work can be found in the exhibition “Lucas Cranach d. Ä. – Pages of an artist’s life “. Back to the accommodation. So I’ve moved into the apartment, once myself celebrated, for this smart decision, the many rooms and especially the magnificent view of the marketplace enjoyed. And at breakfast it proved again: everything done right.

Lovingly every morning a small fine buffet is served. You will be served naturally sour juices from the region, special sausage and cheese specialties, freshly cooked eggs, bread rolls, quark, yoghurt and a great cereal selection. There are really good filter coffee on the table and who turns his coffee cup also finds a loving surprise. I do not tell you what that is, you have to find out for yourself. Through and through, this vacation rental is run in the historic setting with love and therefore I really recommend it to you.

Hostel in the Cranach farms
The view of the marketplace I had in the apartment “red”, this costs for 2 people including breakfast 80 euros per night (as of June 2018)

Are the first 24 hours in Wittenberg around and you have seen the main attractions (a church tower climb is also possible, by the way), offers the following day a trip to Dessau-Roßlau.

Tips for a day in Dessau-Roßlau

Architecture, beautiful sounds and impressive industry Dessau-Roßlau has everything to offer. But from the beginning. Dessau is above all famous for one thing: one of the most famous architecture and art schools in the world: the Bauhaus. From 1926 to 1932, the city attracted well-known artists. Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe were the founders, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Lyonel Feininger, Oskar Schlemmer, László Moholy-Nagy, Marcel Breuer and Johannes Itten were added at times. What must it have been like for a while, when all of these great names in architecture and architecture used to live here, sometimes even living side by side in the Master House settlement?.

Sadly, the time of the Nazis followed and with them the departure of these artists. Today, many years later, exhibitions can be seen in the Bauhaus as well as in the Meisterhaus. It is advisable to join one of the guided tours and so take plenty of information about the Bauhaus era.

Admission only to the Bauhaus: 8,50 Euro; Ticket for all Bauhaus houses 15 euros,
With the WelterbeCard, admission to one of the Bauhaus houses is free
Opening times Bauhaus: daily 10 am – 5 pm
Opening hours Master Houses:
November – March: 11am – 5pm
April – October: 10am – 5pm

Restaurant with a view

Before going to the evening program, it’s time to take a break and eat something. A great menu with fresh and vegetarian dishes, but above all a relaxing view, that offers the Kornhaus Dessau directly on the Elbe. Or as the website says “Comfort in a relaxed atmosphere“. Dine while watching over the water – what more could you want.

Opening hours:
March to October daily from 11:00
November to February from 12:00

Evening program in Dessau: culture on the ears

Already two years ago, I was there with my family-in-law and, in view of the good memories, was even more pleased when my colleagues from the World Heritage Region offered me tickets for a concert at the Anhaltisches Theater Dessau. The largest theater in the region has its own charm, I think. A really nice place to listen to an excellent symphony concert. I was allowed to enjoy performed works by Weinberger, Pauer, Smetana and Janacek. But the program is changed regularly, offers always something new and in summer the orchestra even presents sea concerts in the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz. So you should not miss such a special evening, if you are in the region.

Anhaltinisches Theater
5 Euro discount with the WelterbeCard

Ferropolis: Old industry is becoming a cool venue

Krasser could not possibly be the contrast between Bauhaus, symphony concert and Ferropolis. The “city of iron” lies between Wittenberg and Dessau, just outside, on the Gremminer lake and gives a fascinating picture. In the past, mining was done here, huge man-operated machines were producing coal. For a long time, the region was a dirty environmental sin, but also a reliable employer for around 60,000 miners. After the lignite mining stopped, the question remained what to do with the pits. Gremminer See is an answer to that. You have left some of the huge excavator machines. These contemporary witnesses make the place, which has been called “Ferropolis” since 1995, very special. They create an industrial atmosphere that contrasts with the natural environment. A really crazy togetherness. You can not only look at the history of regional coal mining on the site, but also a guided tour up one of the mighty excavators is possible. In addition, Ferropolis is a popular place for festivals and concerts. Sizes such as Herbert Grönemeyer, Metallica, the Toten Hosen, THE DOCTORS and Paul Kalkbrenner have already made memorable performances here. Nobody wants to miss a concert in this atmosphere. You certainly not.

So check it out, if during your time in the World Heritage Region, it is no coincidence that there is a concert in Ferropolis. And even if not, you can join one of the guided tours or discover the area by quad.

With the WelterbeCard, admission is free and you can rent a bike for free for one day

Anhalt-Wittenberg-Dessau: Active outside

Besides all the culture and the good food, it was important for us to actively explore the nature of the region. Because she can be seen.

A special bike tour

Many visitors come over the Elberadweg in the region. A total of 1,260 kilometers long, this cycle path from northern Germany to Prague. Maybe you would like to borrow a bike and explore a section of the route yourself? Worth it!

On the way in the huge garden kingdom

But even without a bike, there is plenty of great nature to discover. The Garden Kingdom Dessau-Wörlitz for example. Several castles and parks are part of this 142 km² cultural landscape. Here you can really go for days and have probably not seen everything yet. So think about what you want to focus on during your outing. A good decision-making aid are the tour suggestions from the garden kingdom. Incidentally, the WelterbeCard offers you mostly free entry here. For example, you can take part in a castle tour, a park tour and a gondola ride for free.

Go hiking and find the beaver

Also part of the Elbradweg and recommended for small hikes is the Biosphere Reserve Middle Elbe. You can explore 19 alluvial paths of between one and 32 kilometers in length. In the middle of it, even a beaver is waiting for your visit. In a large outdoor enclosure you had once settled several of the rodents, except for one but they are all out. The refugee beaver now live around the enclosure in the water area, but the last mohawk beaver can still be seen by a small wooden tower when he is sitting around in the grass around the small lake.

By the way, do not be deterred by the website, when we were there it was said on this, the plant was closed, you could from the way to the wooden tower and from there also the beaver can see.

Share this article on Pinterest

Exploitation during wakeboarding

If you want to be really active, are a water rat or just want to try a new sport, you have to Goitzsche. Today’s lake used to be a mining area, as was Lake Gremmin near Ferropolis. After decommissioning, the old pit has been flooded and today the resulting lake offers great recreational opportunities, including a wakeboarding facility. Are you saying nothing? But you certainly know water skiing? In principle, quite simply explained, wakeboarding is like water-snowboarding, so you’re standing on a board instead of skis, letting you drift across the water. Sounds simple, but it is exhausting and so perfect for those who want to exhaust themselves. For all those who like to do something sporty on the water, but a number less strenuous than the adventurous wakeboarding, there is good news, because stand-up paddling is possible here.

Wakeboardanlage at the Goitzsche
Price: 2 hours wakeboarding costs 24 euros, wakeboard rental and neoprene 13 euros
With the WelterbeCard you can wakeboard for free or stand-up paddling

Bad weather tips for Anhalt-Wittenberg-Dessau

There are countless opportunities to spend rainy days during a weekend break in the region of Anhalt-Wittenberg-Dessau. I would like to introduce you to two of them.

Between butterflies

Butterfly houses are often known as part of a botanical garden, in Wittenberg there is a butterfly house, which proves all alone. Here you can spend half an hour or hour running along the paths through the thicket, watching for the colorful butterflies.

Butterfly Park Wittenberg
Opening hours:
Summer months: 9.30am – 5.30pm
Winter months: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Admission: 8 euros
With the WelterbeCard you have free admission to the butterfly park

Doing good

Whether it is raining or you just need a little rest and relaxation, in the Heide Spa Hotel & Resort Dübener Heide you can enjoy wellness and bathing fun. Relax in the heated outdoor pool, sweat out the stress of the last few days in the sauna, do something good in the infrared cabin or do a few laps in the indoor pool – anything is possible here.

HEIDE SPA Hotel & Resort
Opening hours in the summer months 10am – 9pm
3 hours ticket for the swimming area: 11,20 Euro
4 hours sauna world + swimming area: 16,50 Euro
With the WelterbeCard you get three hours bathing area for free

My days in the region of Anhalt-Wittenberg-Dessau were, as you can see, well filled with great places and things to do. So I can say that the region is wrongly underestimated and at least a long weekend or a longer bike or hiking tour is definitely recommended.

And should you have more time, Leipzig is not far away. For that I have put together a lot of cool tips in another article.

Related Posts

Like this post? Please share to your friends:
Christina Cherry
Leave a Reply

;-) :| :x :twisted: :smile: :shock: :sad: :roll: :razz: :oops: :o :mrgreen: :lol: :idea: :grin: :evil: :cry: :cool: :arrow: :???: :?: :!: