Cranes

best-known river in the nature park, the Dahme, originates near the related and similarly endangered Tengmalm’s owl – enjoys its Kolpien and winds its painterly way through the north of the continued occurrence in in the near-natural forests area until finally feeding into the in Berlin. of the Niederlausitzer Landrücken (Lower Lusatian Uplands).

A Strange Bird

Approximately one-half of the nature park is dominated by pine forests alongside the near-natural pine-sessile oak stocks in the Rochauer Heide (Rochau Heathland), the beech heath- The nature park already has four organic farms with the bike trails wind through the Luckauer Becken ( Basin). lands near Gahro, and other deciduous forests that were not nursery in Goßmar, a farm in Ogrosen, and the organic fish In addition to the nature hikes visitors will surely also find forested in the Middle Ages or used largely for grazing. The farm in Fürstlich Drehna. They sell their ecologically produced interesting the pottery village of , the Plinsdörfer (farm- A Wondrous Countryside circa-100-square-kilometer forest between Brenitz and Kemlitz products in the corporate shop. In the circa 100 hectares of ing villages), the local history museums in Luckau, Calau, and is one of the largest contiguous forest areas in southern ponds in the fish operation there live carp, perch, and pike as Dahme, as well as the romantic churches in -Wentorf, One of Central Europe’s most exciting landscapes lies be- Brandenburg. well as protected species such as the European crayfish, Large Waltersdorf, or Riedebeck. One should also not miss the Heinz tween Luckau and Calau. In this place, where until 1991 large It is noticeably cooler atop the forested upland; it rains more Mussels, and the European bitterling. Sielmann Nature Park Center Wanninchen or the nature trail pit-mines extracted brown coal, there is now development, frequently; the snow stays longer than in the remaining areas. Castles and Estates Luttchensberg near Zinnitz. which develops with breathtaking speed a near-natural land- Plants and animals are to be found in the highlands: spruce scape with large and small, deep and shallow lakes, dunes, and deer fern in the cool stream valleys; the rare Erica tetralix Since the Bronze Age people have used the fertile land on the Höllberghof Ministry of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection of the Federal State of Brandenburg and steppes. Today shepherds roam a varied landscape and and myrica gale – its only occurrence in Brandenburg – on the foothills and north of the upland. At least 14 former castles Editors: Brandenburg State Office of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection, thousands of migratory birds make their stop here. In the pits marshy subsoil. At the beginning of the 1990s the Eurasian from the 6th to the 12th centuries here bear witness to the For many years the Höllberghof of the Friends of the Nature Office of Press and Public Relations the water is rising and drawing in ever-new rarities from the pygmy-owl made its first reappearance in Brandenburg. While settlement by the Slavic peoples the Lusizi, whose possessed Park near Landengrassau has been a center of attraction for 14476 Potsdam, OT Groß Glienicke, Seeburger Chaussee 2, Tel. (03 32 01) 4 22 - 0 and Niederlausitzer Landrücken Nature Park plant and animal worlds. Some stages of development would the breeding cavities of this, the smallest owl species in the their legendary center in Liubusua, not far from today’s thousands of locals and visitors. The three-sided farm yard, Photos: K. Decruppe, H. Donath, R. Donat, C. Donat, J. Götting-Frosinski, gladly be preserved! But the development is intended, for the area, are still a rarity, the heraldic animal of the nature park – Luckau. The current settlement structure arose after 1200, built in 1991 out of wood, clay, reed, stone, and straw accord- U. Hegewald, J. Herrmann, M. Keil, Naturwacht Brandenburg, F. Ratajczak, J. Sauer Maps: Pro Line Concept, Berlin lakes that are being formed in the coal pits that should be filled following the German conquest: primarily round villages, ing to a 200-year-old model, is, on the one hand, a research Design/Production: Power DesignThing GmbH within a few years. This spectacular post-mining landscape Tengmalm’s owl Erica tetralix Angerdörfer (villages built around a communal square), and and environmental education center and, on the other, a Printing: Landesvermessung und Geobasisinformation Brandenburg As of: September 2013 forms about one-sixth of the nature park, while the rest offers street villages. The impact of the medieval estates can still be site for the maintenance of customs and traditions. Here old some unexpected surprises. seen today in the estate houses with their grounds, fishponds, domestic animal breeds such as the skudde – a frugal species The Highland, a ridge of mountains that comes from Hamburg and boulevards – as in the estate villages Zieckau, Waltersdorf, of sheep – and the pastured pig are bred and used in land- and goes all the way to Silesia, marks the last advance of the Görlsdorf, Beesdau, Ogrosen, and Reddern. scape conservation. The annual Harvest Festival in the autumn glaciers from the Wolstonian Stage around 200,000 years ago. Moderate industrialization left the land sparsely populated. Today features displays of spinning, felting, threshing, and butter Niederlausitzer It extends about 50 kilometers from Dahmetal (Dahme Valley) 28 people live here per square kilometer. For centuries agricul- making; bread is made in the bakehouse and traditional cos- in the northwest to Altdöbern in the southwest right across the ture, which is conducted on just less than 40 percent of the tumes from the 19th century are worn. The Höllbergschänke Landrücken Nature Park nature park. In the north, where the end moraines have sharps nature park, has remained the main source of income in the (Höllberg Tavern) offers typical, regional dishes; an exhibit falls of up to 70 meters, begin numerous small streams that region. Farmers and fishermen receive professional support in the provides information about the history of land use. In the feed into the lowlands pond area. Here European otter and environmentally responsible use of their lands and in landscape Höllenbergen (Höllen Mountains) and in the Calauer Schweiz Landesamt für Naturpark Umwelt, Nationale common kingfishers hunt ospreys and white-tailed eagles. The conservation. south of Calau there are numerous hiking trails, while varied Gesundheit und Niederlausitzer Verbraucherschutz Naturlandschaften Landrücken Zützen 115 Sagritritz Buckow Schöneiche 320 Glienig BurglehnBuBurglehr n Laasow FalkenhainFalkenhain Schiebsdorf Radensdorf Kasel-GolzigKasel-Golzig Niewitz Lübben Schäcksdorf NP WußwerkUckermärkische Jetsch BR Flusslandschaft NP Seen NLP Zauche -Brandenburg Stechlin- BR Unteres Schorfheide- Ruppiner Land hrt Odertal Liedekahle Krossen Nordumfluter fa Chorin B n h Görsdorf ur Nature Park Administration - Niederlausitzer Land Alt ZauchZauche a NP A contact person on site: the nature Kaden g KKa Barnim - NP r L e Niederlausitzer Landrücken Tourism Office Liebs- Caule Kreblitz Neuendorf ü West- h wardens lead visitors to particularly Berste b c NP Gebersdorf dorf b havelland u Prensdorf Kümmritz Hauptspree e a Märkische Fürstlich Drehna, Alte Luckauer Straße 1 Nonnengasse 1/Kulturkirche Wildau- n z e BERLIN beautiful and interesting places r-K u Schweiz e Wentdorf Rüdingsdorf Duben anal e 15926 Luckau/OT Fürstlich Drehna 15926 Luckau hm PotsdamN a in the natural park. They record D NP Tel./Fax: (03 53 24) 30 50 Tel./Fax: (0 35 44) 30 50 96 Rietdorf NP NP Dahme- Zagelsdorf Zieckau Heideseen plants and animals, observe the np-niederlausitzerlandruecken@ Freiimfelde Hoher Nuthe- NP Schollen Ragow Fläming Nieplitz 15 SchlaubetalMühlen- conditions of the habitats, monitor lua.brandenburg.de Elbe-Elster-Land Tourism Office Pitschen-Pitschen- Gießmanns- BR 87 Spreewald dorf www.grossschutzgebiete.brandenburg.de Markt 20, 04924 Pickel dorf Karche Terpt Mittelkanal Gr Buschmühle adherence to protection regula- Dahme Klein NLP = national park (Nationalpark) oNP Großschutzgebiete ße Tel./Fax: (03 53 41) 3 06 52 Karche-Zaacko Radden 115 Niederlausitzers F Pickel Pelkwitz Wierigsdorf Lübbenau BR in Brandenburg = biosphere reserve ließ tions and carry out measures for Zaacko (Biosphärenreservat) Landrücken Nature Watch: www.elbe-elster-land.de Rosenthal Groß Burg-Lübbener-KanalB NP Niendorf Paserinerin NLP = Nationalpark K caring for the biotopes and for NP = nature park (Naturpark) l Radden Niederlausitzer e Alte Luckauer Straße 1 BR = Biosphärenreservat i 102 Lehde Heidelandschaft n Luckau Alteno e LargeNP a =u Naturpark pNaturetspree Reserves in S species conservation. 15926 Luckau/OT Fürstlich Drehna Infopoint Calau Hinden- H Leipe p Neu r berg Brandenburg e S e Sieb Kemlitz Klein e Tel: (03 53 24) 30 80 78, Fax: 30 80 73 Cottbuser Straße 32, 03205 Calau Uckro Cahnsdorf Groß pr Zöllmers- Willmersdorf- ee Falkenberg Beuchow Beuchow dorf Stöbritz Klein The baroque castle including the www.naturwacht.de Tel: (0 35 41) 8 95 80 Klessow Biosphären-Biosphären- www.calauer.de grounds in Altdöbern is currently Langen- Höllberghof Höllberghof Egsdorf Südum reservat grassau flute Bollensdorf Wittmanns- Frees- Stoßdorfer r Südum being restored. While only remains Heideweg 3, Niederlausitz-Museum Luckau Eisdorf Groß BoblitzBoblitz fluteer dorf dorf See Lichtenauer r Kolpien Garrenchen See Klessow of the castle and park can be 15926 Heideblick/OT Langengrassau Nonnengasse 1/Kulturkirche Franken- Kittlitz SSpreewaldpreewald dorf Bergbaufolgelandschaft Lichtenau Groß visited in Sonnenwalde, one can Tel: (03 54 54) 74 05, Fax: 604 15926 Luckau Crater and Crane Waltersdorf Naundorf Altsorgefeld Wüstermarkee Lübbenau Raddusch www.höllberghof.com Tel: (0 35 44) 5 5 70 79 Goßmar Görlsdorf Schlabendorf-Nord Schönfeld enjoy princely cuisine, celebration, Neumühle Müschen Schöna Nord Stradower www.niederlausitzmuseum-luckau.de Kahnsdorfer and accommodation in the (hotel) Körba Sorge Gehren Schlabendorf Schönfelder Teiche Heinz Sielmann Nature Park Center Brown coal mining that began in the 19th century and intensi- See See Fleißdorf Wasserschloss Fürstlich Drehna Stradow Wanninchen Calau Local History Museum Riedebeck ste SchlabendorfeSchlabendorferr Bischdorf Suschow fied after 1960 engulfed entire landscapes, including their er Bischdorfer (Royal Drehna Moated Castle). 15926 Luckau/OT Görlsdorf Kirchstr. 33, 03205 Calau B eß Rochauer Grünswalde li See f Babow See Zinnitz See GGöritz f Bergbaufolgelandschaft n Tel: (0 35 44) 55 77 55, Fax: 55 51 96 Tel: (0 35 41) 8 91- 0 e l villages, in the northeast of today’s nature park. Since the last HeideHeide Beesdau h Vetschau Neusorgefeld Seese-West Dubrau ü www.wanninchen.de Freileben Naturparkzentrum Bathow M Märkisch- coal train left here in 1991 a 20-square-kilometer lake and Wanninchen heide www.natur-schau-spiel.com Dahme Local History Museum Bergbaufolgelandschaft Koswig r Töpferstr. 16, 15935 Dahme/Mark Bornsdorf Schlabendorf-Süd e marsh landscape has developed. The flooding of the mining u The 20-cubic- Walddrehnadrehna Mlode a Tel: (03 54 51) 4 93 Groß Kalkwitz ch Eichow ts Jehser e meter Teufels­ pits and the rising of the groundwater in recent years has led Trebbinchen Bergen Stiebs- V dorfer Mallenchen Local History Museum See Drehnaer Buckow Saßleben 15 stein (Devil’s The historical center of Luckau to the creation of eight larger and 20 smaller lakes, which are Wehnsdornsdorf See Erpitz im Vorderschloss, 03249 Sonnewalde Reuden Stone) in the – a gate to the nature park – is 87 Pechhütte Gahroer Repten a paradise for swimmers, fishermen, and the diverse plant Schwarzenburg Pechhütte Fürstlich nearly completely enclosed by the Tel: (03 53 23) 6 83 18 oder 6 31 25 Weißack Drehna Tugam BBolschwitz Gehrener Proßmarke Klein- Calau Säritz Bergen (Gehren medieval town wall and the town and animals worlds. While local recreation areas are created krausnikkrausnik Groß Berga Naundorf Groß- Mehßow Schadewitz Tornitz Mountains) graben. krausnikkrausnik Gahro Crinitz on the Hindenberg, Schönfeld, and Drehna lakes, around one- Klein GaGahlen is the largest Mehßow Werchow Missen Briesen third of the post-mining landscape in the nature park will be Kemmen Pliesken- glacial erratic Pahlsdorf Radens- Craupe dorf dorf turned into a nature reserve and left to natural development. Lugk- Cabel Wüstenhain in south Wehrhain Hillmersdorf teich Dabern Groß Schrackau Brandesnburg. The Heinz Sielmann Foundation has acquired over 3,000 Zeckerin Bahren Lassow Babben Calauer Ogrosen hectares in order to ensure the long-term conservation of Friedersdorf Bahren SchweiSchweizz Since time immemorial cranes Trebbus Brenitz Babbener GollmitzGollmitz Gräbendorfer Stechau Settinchen BorderFrankenhain of the Nature Park Buch- have rested on the fields between habitats for rare plants and animals. Already today the mining Grenze Naturpark Niederlausitzer Landrücken Goßmar See Lichtena Weißag wäldchen Niederlausitzer Landrücken Ranzow Luckau and Calau. Especially lakes are a component of one of the largest crane meeting Naturschutzgebiet (NSG) Sonnewaldeonnewalde Heide Reddern good views can be had from the NatureBesucherzentren park administration des Naturparks Breitenau Gosda Casel Oelsig Zwietow Muckwar and rest areas in . Sand martins and common terns Dübrichen Arenzhain Schönewaldewaldee Pießig 20-meter-high observation tower Information Museum also live on the waters; tens of thousands of Nordic geese Information Museum Ossaakk Münchhausen Möllendorf on the road between Goßmar r Tanneberg Rutzkau Bronkow and Freedorf. In the autumn one NatureNaturschutz- Watch CampingCamping Kleine Elste Luckaitz Peitzendorf rest here annually. In the few remaining untouched areas Information Prießen Neu- Bergbaufolgelandschaft Ponnsdorf Gröbitz can often see up to 7,000 cranes, Rehain döbern Greifenhain WaterWassermühle mill Parks Frankena around Schlabendorf golden jackals and wolves have already Parkanlagen WerenzhaiWerenzhainn 96 13 Schöllnitz 50,000 arctic geese, and 2,000 Reiten/ Lindthal Rettchensdorf GreifenhaiGreifenhainn lapwings. been seen. One regional treasure is the tiger beetle Cylindera WindWindmühleBuchhain mill Riding/charabanc Lipten Fahrtouristik Massen Saadow slawischer Kirchhain Hennersdorfersdorfdorf Slavic castle wall AltAltdöbern Altdöberner arenaria viennensis that has its greatest frequency in Germany Burgwall Lugkanal Göllnitz on the nutrient-rich soils of the post-mining landscape. NexdorfObservationAussichtsturm tower Chransdorf Doberlug- Lug See Kirchhain 0 8 km Betten Ressen N Lieskau

Lugau Lubochow