Canoe tour from Cottbus to Burg – discover the River Spree

A demanding day tour directly from the city of Cottbus through the renaturalised Spree floodplain to Burg im Spreewald. They say that from Cottbus to the Spreewald it’s just a stone’s throw – or nowadays a full day of canoeing and kayaking. On this route you can experience water touring in the true sense of the word. Heading down the Spree with a light current, you go directly from the pulsating centre of Cottbus, past the historic mill – the Spreewehrmühle – through mixed forest and floodplain landscapes and along unspoilt riverbanks to the magical town of Burg in the heart of the Spreewald. Here canoeists will find nature, space, peace and quiet – and a touch of adventure.

Length: 27.2 kilometres, approximately 6 hours

Start: Entrance point at the ESV Lok RAW Cottbus boathouse, Lindenplatz 20 – pre-booking required by telephone on +49 355-714661 or mobile +49 1799497190!
Destination: opposite side of the lock from Spreehafen Burg
NOTE: At the moment it is not possible to get off at the end point because the bridge and weir are closed. Sports boats coming from Cottbus turn left about 500 metres before the Burger Mühle into the Durchstich Südumfluter, then continue via the Südumfluter to the navigable area opposite Bootshaus am Leineweber (entrance to Burg). Canoes have to be carried on two occasions.
(For further details, see www.lbv.brandenburg.de)

Directions:

• Train: From Berlin, take the RE 2 to Cottbus. From Dresden take the RE 15 or RE 18 to Cottbus. From Leipzig take the RE 10 to Cottbus.

Boats can be hired at Spreehafen Burg, including boat transfer to Cottbus. (Currently Bootshaus am Leineweber!)

Route: downstream of the Spree past Spreewehrmühle Cottbus, via Döbbrick, Maiberg, following the course of the Spree in the direction of flow, through the renaturalised Spree floodplains with the aurochs to Burg (Spreewald).

Points of interest along the route:

• Cottbus: Art museum in a converted diesel power plant, Brandenburg’s pharmacy museum, Staatstheater am Schillerplatz, Branitz Palace and Park, Oberkirche St. Nikolai church
• Historic Spreewehrmühle mill (now a restaurant)
• Renaturalised Spree meadows with aurochs
• Burg Spreewald: resort with spa, dispersed settlement with historic farmyards typical of the Spreewald region, punting boat harbours, barefoot park, Bismarck Tower, craft demonstration centre, biosphere reserve visitor centre, Schlossberghof visitor centre, Spa Gardens and Saga Park

Level of difficulty: demanding, suitable for experienced paddlers and canoeists

Nautical information:

• Low weirs and boat lanes along the tour, canoeing tips at www.spreewald.de/kanu-paddeln/kanutouren-highlights/tour-cottbus-burg/
• In the core zone of the Spreewald you may not depart from the waterways or paddle down individual riverways
• Paddling is only allowed until 1 hour after sunset
• Spreewald punts always have right of way

Maps/Literature:
Flyer Erlebnis-Paddeln auf der Spree as pdf-file for download