Lake Markkleeberg near Leipzig - a paradise for young and old
Key facts about Lake Markkleeberg at a glance
On a 9-kilometre loop, you can explore the lake on foot in around 2:15 hours. With a maximum altitude difference of 47 meters, you don't have to overcome any major hills. Just let your gaze wander and enjoy the view!
Whether on foot, by bike, pushchair, skates or wheelchair - the well-paved path is accessible and therefore suitable for everyone. Even dogs are allowed! At the dog beach in the area of the Auenhain beach in the direction of Wachau beach, four-legged friends can run around freely. Therefore, the lake is perfect for a excursion with dog. However, dogs must be kept on a lead in the recreation area! The natural surroundings offer endless paths for walks and there are numerous opportunities to have fun together around the lake, such as beach volleyball, boat hire or fitness trails. The lake also offers a great landscape for children with beaches, ice cream parlors, a playground and an exciting geo-trail! Wherever you look, you ll see lots of meadows and water, some deciduous and pine forest and even the odd sandy beach on the otherwise green shore. According to the EU bathing site, Lake Markkleeberg has "excellent bathing water quality".
Getting to Lake Markkleeberg in Leipzig made easy:
To reach the lake by public transport, simply get on the S-Bahn and get off at the Markkleeberg stop (S3, S5, S5X and S6). The stops "Markkleeberg Ost, Seepromenade" and "Auenhain, Kanupark" are also located directly on the lake, both of which can be reached by bus 106 "Der Markkleeberger". Another option is to take the PlusBus line 141 to the stop "Auenhain, Seepark", which is less than a five-minute walk from the shore. The tram line 11 will also take you to the lake - just get off at the "Markkleeberg Ost, Schillerplatz" stop. Alternatively, you can of course also travel by your own car to the parking lot at Auenhainer Str. 1, 04416 Markkleeberg.
But before you set off on your own, let me take you on a tour around the beautiful Lake Markkleeberg and show you the highlights!
Sporting activities on the lake
Whether you're a sports fan, nature enthusiast or simply a lover of fresh air - Lake Markkleeberg in Leipzig makes everyone's heart beat faster, as it offers numerous opportunities to let off steam in a more or less sporty way.
Due to the low gradient, I definitely rate the super excavated path around the lake from easy/medium/difficult as easy. This means that the 9-kilometre route is suitable for marathon runners (which we all are when we're not taking a break) as well as for those who like to jog and see how long they can last. Only the canoe park is a little more uphill. But once you've fought your way up there, it's a relaxed run.
Today, my boyfriend and I opted for a combination of bikes and skates. We start at the parking lot at the northern end of the lake and begin our tour heading east, i.e. clockwise around the lake. To get an overview of "the project around the lake" first, we drive a few hundred meters along the lake promenade - to the higher viewpoint, from where we can see the whole lake.
To our right, we discover the sandy beach directly on the northern shore and also the sandy beach at the south-eastern end next to the roaring waters of the canoe park, the Auenhainer Strand. The shallow water on both beaches makes them particularly suitable for spending a great day with children or playing a few sets with friends on the beach volleyball courts. But if you can't stand it after just a few meters on the bike, you can always take a dip in the cool water, because there are also numerous small bays, cozy sunbathing lawns and entry points around the lake away from the beaches.
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Wild action - in the water or up high?
After getting an overview, we roll along the eastern shore of Lake Markkleeberg directly into the area of action-packed water sports! Because here at the south-eastern end of the lake, we not only discover an oasis of relaxation on the sandy beach, but also the Kanupark Markkleeberg with the white water of its rafting facility and the Wassersportstation from ALL-on-SEA in the Auenhainer Bucht. And if you're not so keen on getting wet, you can put your Tarzan skills to the test at the climbing park.
Action-packed water sports on Lake Markkleeberg in Leipzig
The Canoe Park has kicked off the season with its leisure activities. This year, whitewater rafting in particular will once again provide plenty of fun and action in Auenhain Bay. There are also many other interesting offers at the canoe park. Including a standing wave! This makes it possible for you to throw yourself into the wave as a wave surfer or with truly full physical exertion as a bodyboarder!
You can find all the offers here. Of course, you can also park conveniently at the canoe park
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Climbing park on Lake Markkleeberg in Leipzig
In summer temperatures, the Kletterpark Markkleeberg also invites you to swing through its various courses with different levels of difficulty at brilliant heights.
After a complete renovation, the facility was reopened in May 2025. The climbing park has several courses with different levels of difficulty and new, exciting climbing elements. The spectacular panoramic view over Leipzig's Neuseenland is unique. The base jump and the zipline routes with a total length of 300 meters provide an adrenaline rush! Climbing is possible from the age of six and a minimum height of 1.10 meters.
On the grounds of the climbing park there is also an adventure golf course, where fun and games are guaranteed for all ages. This is open and can be visited during the regular opening hours of the facility (see below).
Good to know: As a rule, the climbing park is open until October - always from Friday to Sunday as well as on public holidays and bridging days. During the vacation periods, extended opening hours apply for both the climbing park and the adventure golf course. For groups of 15 people or more, it is also possible to book outside opening hours by prior arrangement.
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ALL-on-SEA water sports station in Auenhain Bay
The ALL-on-SEA water sports school on Lake Markkleeberg in Leipzig is located right next to the canoe park and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or until sunset. Among other things, sailing dinghies, catamarans, windsurfing equipment, stand-up paddleboards as well as canoes and inflatable boats are available for hire. In addition, the water sports professionals from ALL-on-SEA run weekly courses and tours for you to guarantee you the best possible and most exciting experience in, on and around the water.
For the undecided: taster lessons to try out the water sports are possible at any time by arrangement.
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Exploratory tours on the geological trail
Get ready for beautiful hiking routes to suit your mood or the exciting Geopfad - along Lake Markkleeberg - all the way to Lake Störmthal! In the style of the machines used in the former open-cast mine 16 over-man-high steles on the 14-kilometreexploration trail along the shore offer you an insight into the earth's history. Here you will learn and discover everything about the consequences of the Ice Age, the famous found site in Markkleeberg itself, artifacts from the Palaeolithic Age, the formation of the current (beautiful) open-cast mining landscape and also what the North Sea probably has to do with Leipzig.
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Passenger shipping on Lake Markkleeberg
Let us take you for a really nice ride: The best way to do this is on a trip across the shallow waters of Lake Markkleeberg. The Personenschifffahrt am Markkleeberger See offers you regular line and round trips as well as special cruises (family, company, Christmas parties and wedding cruises) every day.You can either pick up tickets and further information during your tour on the lakeside promenade or make your request by telephone on (0341) 33 79 74 20.
Get to know Lake Markkleeberg in Leipzig from a different perspective with the "MS Markkleeberg" and the "MS Wachau" and be surprised by what the captains of the ships still have all kinds of insider information about the lake for you
The official season ends at the beginning of October - so be sure to check out the website before your visit.
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Places of interest near Lake Markkleeberg
From our vantage point, with a little imagination, we can also spot a few cultural highlights in the distance. The architecture lovers among you should definitely pay a visit to the Auenkirche in Markkleeberg-Ost. This oldest building in the town is located around one kilometer from the north side of the lake. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, the church boasts an organ by Urban Kreutzbach, a 19th-century organ builder from Borna. You can easily get there in your own car thanks to a parking lot in front of it - alternatively, you can also take the Tram 11 to the Markkleeberg, Virchowstraße stop.
The industrial culture enthusiasts among you should definitely make a detour to the Mining Technology Park. On approx. 5.4 hectares of typical open-cast mining terrain, this park shows you authentically and comprehensibly how a complete extraction cycle of an open-cast mining operation took place. You re guaranteed to leave smarter than you came!
The church ruins of Wachau are enthroned on the highest point of the small village, around two kilometers from the shore of Lake Markkleeberg. Built in the 19th century according to plans by the architect of Leipzig's St. Peter's Church, Constantin Lipsius, the listed church is now overgrown with bright green and red vines and is used as a picturesque venue for classical, pop and jazz concerts. You can get there by taking bus 106 to the Wachau, An der Hohle stop,
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What else is there to discover?
You can also visit the Historisches Torhaus, which is part of the former Markkleeberg manor. Today it houses an exciting museum with all the information about the Markkleeberg Castle, which was at the center of the fighting during the Battle of Nations near Leipzig in 1813. Perhaps you'll spot a few impact marks from the heavy cannonballs
If you were particularly attentive on the way there, you may also have spotted the imposing Garden Pavilion Monopteros. Don't be surprised, the free-standing monument with 8 Ionic columns and ornate volute capitals is strangely located in the middle of a residential complex - at the end of the 19th century, the Dodel Landscape Park was still located here. If you look closely, you can even recognize parts of the old ceiling painting!
If you ve cycled from Leipzig to the lake, you ve certainly cycled through a very special park that should not go unmentioned: the Agra-Park is worth a stopover, not least because of its historic architecture and the painterly pavilion!
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What's there to snack on?
Of course, with so much physical exertion, energy supply should not be neglected! After the rest of the route along the south side of the lake with a view of the cute little Getzelau Island, a varied gastronomic offer awaits you - back at our starting point in the north of the lake - where you can now also let off steam with culinary delights.
For example, STRAND HAUS is located directly on the beach promenade, where you can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine, high-quality steaks and exciting wines. The view of the jetty and the magnificent lake invites you to linger.
Of course, this is not the only place where you can enjoy a snack. The canoe park also offers you refreshments on the wild water terrace . Or you can treat yourself to a refreshment at the Biergarten Restaurant Seeperle in the Seepark Auenhain. After all, we don't want anyone to go limp halfway around the lake ;)
If you are traveling with friends, a barbecue and 20 packets of sausages, there is a barbecue area for you on Auenhain beach. Away from this, however, there is an official barbecue ban at the Leipzig lakes. Otherwise, you will find several stalls, especially near the two beaches, where you can pick up fruity ice cream, fresh cake and cool refreshments on your trip.
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Farewell and conclusion
Now the time has actually come: we have toured once around the beautiful lake and the farewell is imminent. We've seen everything at Lake Markkleeberg in Leipzig and after an eventful day, we're now really exhausted. So let's get on the bus. The aforementioned bus route 106 also takes us back to Leipzig. This comes from Böhlen, along Hainer and Störmthaler See. It stops at Markkleeberger See, at the canoe park in Auenhain and on the lakeside promenade. The bus winds its way through the whole of Markkleeberg (via Markkleeberg S-Bahn station) and then makes a small loop across Cospudener See to Großstädteln.
We take a seat, make ourselves comfortable on the bus and reflect on the day. Lake Markkleeberg is one of my favorite lakes because it simply offers the perfect mix of active and chilled relaxation.
If you want to explore the lake comfortably from the boat go for a swim and enjoy a delicious ice cream or even a delicious dinner on the way back to the parking lot then you've come to the right place!
If you fancy trying out rafting or SUP with friends and then treating yourself to a cool beer on the terrace then you've come to the right place!
Would you like to go for a relaxing bike ride with the family or soak up some knowledge on the geological trail and then end the day relaxing on the sandy beach with digging tools and a picnic ? Once again: You've come to the right place!
So - we'll see you ;)
The next lake excursion is sure to come. The other lakes in Neuseenland are also worth a visit, so take a look at Störmthaler See, Cospudener See, Kulkwitzer See, Schladitzer See or the Zwenkauer See.
You still have questions? Then get in touch with us!
Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH
Tourist Information
Tel.: +49 341 / 7104 - 260
E-mail: info@ltm-leipzig.de
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