Granite porphyry was mined in the quarry beneath the Bergkirche and used for the construction of the Monument to the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig. Of the seven former quarries, only one is still active today. The Brandiser milestones, which draw attention to important personalities and sights in the city, are another indication of the significance of the stones.
From a stone empire to what is now Germany's largest solar park
Brandis was first mentioned in a document in 1121. The origin of the name was probably a transfer of the Brandis Castle near Meran in South Tyrol. In 1150 the settlement was granted market rights for the first time. Stone has been mined in the area since the 13th century. Between the years 1.000 and 1.200 the Kirchberg was a Slavic place of worship. During the missionary work, the church was built with a tower and sacristy. The red tendril painting in the tower of the fortified church, which was created during this period, was first mentioned in a document in 1280. The Thirty Years' War left behind a great deal of misery, during which Brandis lost around half its population.
In 1938, a military airfield was built in the Polenz district, which was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II and bombed several times. Today, the Waldpolenz solar park stands on the former airfield site, which was at one point the largest solar park in Germany and the second largest in Europe. On January 1, 1999, the new town of Brandis was formed from the town of Brandis and the municipality of Beucha as part of the municipal reform.
churches, castle and Brandis' "Walk of Fame"
The most striking building in the Beucha district is the mountain church. It is considered a landmark of the town, and is already indicated by the motorway sign. This is only partly due to the church itself, because what is particularly unusual is its location on the slope of a quarry. Granite porphyry has been mined from this quarry since the 15th century, creating a picturesque overall image of the church above the almost vertically sloping wall. A small rock lake has formed in the former quarry, which has not been used since the 1950s. A walk through the idyllic forest around the lake, which has been signposted as the Kirchbruch route and enhanced with information boards, is particularly recommended in the summer months. A small cemetery leads to the mountain church, which is open between 14 and 17 p.m. in the summer months. Even when the church gate is closed, it is worth taking the walk up to look down on the heart-shaped, flooded quarry.
The town church of Brandis, first mentioned in documents in 1121, is also worth a visit. It is characterized by a magnificent Donat organ from 1705. The remains of the masonry of the nave and the tower crossing date back to the Romanesque period. The sacrament house on a twisted column on the north side of the chancel is one of the oldest pieces of equipment in the church. Next to it is an epitaph with the image of a child in clerical robes.
Not far from the Brandis town church is the castle with its very well-preserved castle park. Since the grounds are privately owned, it can only be visited during events, festivals or markets. However, there is also a wedding room of the town administration here. The baroque castle and garden were built between 1700 and 1727 based on designs by David Schatz. The important baroque architect built the castle on the market square on behalf of Otto Wilhelm von Bodenhausen. This resulted in one of the most impressive estates in the Leipzig area, which today houses residential and commercial units. In the castle park, whose current structure dates from the 1920s, there is a mausoleum. This was built in 1854 for the then owner, Baron von Pentz. The castle park also features a water tower from 1884, a natural theater and several lion sculptures.
When you walk through Brandis town centre, you will repeatedly come across special memorial stones set along the footpath: the Brandis Mile. The stones were donated by residents, clubs or the town council and draw attention to various sights, personalities and stories from the past and present. Over 170 stones now adorn the Brandis “Walk of Fame”, which is being gradually expanded. In this way, the footpath has continually developed into an open book for walkers who want to get to know the town better.
The “Bulldoghof Remler” is also a must-see on a tour of Brandis. The museum displays various tractors, two-wheelers, farm equipment and home furnishings as well as stationary engines and sewing machines in several exhibition rooms.
The old cemetery in the north of Brandis contains a Soviet memorial grove with collective and individual graves for 147 Soviet prisoners of war. There are also graves of four prisoners of war from Beucha and Borsdorf, as well as 90 women and men who were deported to Germany during the Second World War and became victims of forced labor in Wurzen and Zschadraß.
Adventure for the little guests and climbing enthusiasts
Brandis has a unique experience to offer children: the Brandis Expedition. The little guests can discover the town either via an app or with free expedition equipment, consisting of a small backpack with an expedition manual, children's city map, ballpoint pen and Gozwinus key chain. Knight Gozwinus de Brandez and siblings Elli and Paul show parents and children the town. The self-guided tour starts at the fountain on the market. From there, up to 18 stations in the town centre and the districts of Beucha and Polenz can be explored. The equipment can be picked up at Brandis Town Hall or you can simply download the app from the town hall's free WiFi network - and you're ready to go.
Brandis is a popular destination for climbers due to its many quarries. South of the town are the East and West quarries, two abandoned quarries on the Kohlenberg that have been developed by the Leipzig climbing school since the 1920s. There are currently 67 climbing routes up to the seventh Saxon level of difficulty in the West quarry and 34 routes up to the eighth level of difficulty in the East quarry.
Famous people from Brandis
The well-known opera and operetta singer Anneliese Zänsler has her roots here: she was born in the district of Åmmerei in 1927. Another well-known personality from Brandis is Friedrich Wilhelm Otto Dögel, an architect who became known primarily through the construction of the American Church in Dresden.
Interesting event highlights
A popular event in Brandis is the town music festival, which takes place every summer. Various musical performances on the specially constructed stage ensure fun and entertainment. Younger guests can enjoy the children's arena on the church square, romping around on the bouncy castle, having face painting or doing handicrafts. Since 2011, an annual farm festival has also been held on the Bulldoghof. At the beginning of May, interested parties are invited to enjoy the special exhibitions, the tractor show and culinary and entertaining highlights.
Cycling, swimming and hiking in Leipzig's New Lake District
With the Leipzig Neuseenland on its doorstep, Brandis is the ideal starting point for excursions. The closest is the Albrechtshainer See, popularly known as the Autobahnsee because gravel from its pit was used to build the A14 from 1936 onwards. To the southwest of the Albrechtshainer See there is a climbing forest and a sandy beach with sunbathing lawns that can be reached via Kleinsteinberger Straße in the direction of Albrechtshain.
There are also three regional cycle paths along Lake Albrechtshain. The outer Green Ring, a 134-kilometer-long cycle route, runs all the way around Leipzig. On the 85-kilometer-long Leipzig-Elbe cycle route between Leipzig and Schirmenitz, you can admire many sights, including windmills, old castles and village churches worth seeing. The Parthe-Mulde cycle route runs from Leipzig along the Parthe to Beucha and has a total length of 56 kilometers. It connects the Elster cycle path and the Mulde cycle path.
For hikers, the hiking route from Beucha to Wurzen is recommended. It leads through the Brandiser Forest and the Planitz Forest, past several quarries and various historical monuments. The highlight of this hiking trail is the section between Schmölen and Dehnitz, which is crossed by ferry.
Important facts at one glance
Brandis has around 9.600 inhabitants and is located around 18 kilometers east of Leipzig and 15 kilometers west of Wurzen. The community with its three districts is located in the Central German Transport Association's network area and is connected to local public transport via the Leipzig regional bus. Brandis can be reached by car from the A14 via the Naunhof exit. From the north, the town is connected to the transport network via the B6. The Leipzig-Dresden railway line also runs through Beucha.