Bad Duben

The spa town of Bad Düben - the gateway to the Düben Heath - lies at the intersection of the cities of Leipzig, Lutherstadt Wittenberg and the Renaissance town of Torgau. It is framed by the heathland of the same name and the largely natural river floodplain landscape of the Mulde, which meanders along the western edge of the town towards Goitzsche and the Mulde reservoir. The Düben Heath Nature Park, with its extensive forest areas, extends north and east of the town as far as Kemberg and Bad Schmiedeberg.

The history of the place can be traced back to the year 981, when a castle called "Dibni" was mentioned in written sources. After frequent changes of ownership and complete destruction in the Saxon Civil War, Düben Castle became the administrative seat of the Düben district in 1531, before briefly becoming the headquarters of the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in the autumn of 1813.

Today, the renovated half-timbered building houses the Düben Heath Landscape Museum, which familiarizes visitors with many aspects of the history as well as the flora and fauna of this unique heathland area.

As a special attraction, one of the last remaining ship mills in Germany can be visited in the castle garden. It was mentioned as early as 1686 and has since drawn its energy tirelessly from the river. Of the five mills in the city, the Düben town mill still grinds flour for the local bakers. It was built in 1538 as an electoral official cutting mill and was also previously powered exclusively by water power. The mill yard of the historic Obermühle water mill, which was first mentioned in documents around 1434, invites us to experience traditional craftsmanship today. The Düben post mill welcomes guests coming from the direction of Wittenberg from afar and the Sommerfeld post mill in Tiefensee is a popular destination on Mill Day, the largest folk festival in the region.

A rich moor deposit led to the construction of a moor bath over 100 years ago. The healing effect of the moor is still highly valued today in the HEIDE SPA Hotel & Resort spa and wellness center. Here you can immerse yourself in Saxony's great wellness world, be pampered from head to toe and enjoy bathing culture in a sophisticated atmosphere. From the new four-star wellness hotel you can go directly to the individual wellness and adventure areas via a bathrobe corridor. A lot of interesting information about this natural remedy can be found on a tour of the moor adventure garden. When you arrive at the moor treading pool, you have to take off your socks and shoes and feel the stimulating effect for yourself.

When walking in the adjacent spa park, you can stroll along historic paths and enjoy peace and nature. The spa park was created in 1848 as one of the first public parks in Germany. With its fountains, flower and rhododendron plantations, small therapy facilities, barefoot path and the magnificent old trees, it is an idyllic oasis of relaxation. It encloses the forest hospital, an orthopedic specialist hospital and the rehabilitation center with its specialist clinics for cardiology, neurology and orthopedics. Since the renovation of the Hotel & Restaurant Kurhaus, a traditional excursion restaurant in the middle of the park invites you to linger over culinary delicacies and attend summer spa concerts.

The historic old town can be reached quickly via the Kur-Stadt-Weg. Lovingly renovated buildings with small, fine shops, cafes and restaurants with comfortable outdoor seating promise a treat for the eyes and the palate.

The town hall on the market square, which was restored just a few years ago, has an amusing eye-catcher. Much to the delight of guests, the hour strikes differently here in the truest sense of the word: two billy goats appear under the town hall clock on the hour and bang their heads together to the sound of the bell.

At the foot of the castle, the Nature Park House has recently opened to the public, hosting various events and a modern permanent exhibition on topics such as "Climate Change" and "Experience Wild Animals".

From here, over 500 km of signposted trails lead nature lovers and those seeking relaxation to the most attractive destinations in the region.

Other interesting sights:

• City Church of St. Nikolai with church hall (essential parts from the late Romanesque period, extensive hall reconstruction in 1816/19 by Carlo Ignatio Pozzi);
• Catholic Church (1956/57, with unusual tower position);
• the three-part Plague Gate was built as an entrance portal to the city cemetery around 1577;
• the Gustav Adolf Stone commemorates a meeting between the Swedish monarch and Protestant princes in the immediate run-up to the Battle of Breitenfeld (1631), the Blücher Stone commemorates the headquarters of the Silesian Army in October 1813;
• an iron-rich spring: the legendary Gesundbrunnen;

ST Alaunwerk

• From 1557 to 1886, alum was mined here and the leached earth was piled up on heaps. These have long since been covered in greenery and form a very unique hilly landscape. A special attraction with a panoramic view is the "Red Bank", a steep slope up to 15m high on the bank of the Mulde created by embankment.

ST Schnaditz

• Schnaditz moated castle, a three-winged castle complex from the 14th to 19th centuries with a publicly accessible castle garden, the former residence of the Zaschnitz family whose machinations Heinrich von Kleist described in his novella "Michael Kohlhaas";
• The church's floor plan was modelled on a St. Anthony's cross. The organ is located above the pulpit altar. The interior also contains the epitaphs of the Zaschnitz family, a baptismal font from the 13th century and a funeral image.

ST Wellaune

• - former inn "Kohlhaasenkrug", which was the starting point for the Kohlhase affairs in 1532, after the merchant Hans Kohlhase had lost all his belongings due to the arbitrary actions of the Junker von Zaschnitz, he declared war on the nobles and, together with like-minded people, attacked estates, castles and noble residences until he was betrayed and executed in 1540;