In the Dahlener Heide, nature lovers and those seeking relaxation will find almost untouched nature, which can be discovered via numerous well-marked hiking and cycling trails. Interesting excursion points with unusual names such as the "Nixentümpel" or the "Tote Magd" invite you to go on extensive discovery tours. Once you have seen enough of nature, you will find cultural entertainment and leisure opportunities for every taste in the historic heath villages and heath towns.
A paradise for nature lovers and animal lovers
The heath has a number of natural features to offer. The area is characterized by the presence of the Dahlen terminal moraine, which has its origins in the Saale Ice Age. This is also indicated by the numerous boulders of Scandinavian origin, such as the "Leichenstein" in Sitzenroda or the "Blaue Stein" between Wohlau and Bockwitz. A striking feature is the gently undulating areas at a height of 120 to 200 meters. These ice age terrain formations can be easily recognized in the Hunsrück. The two highest elevations of the highly reliefed Dahlen heath are the Schildberg (Schildau quartz porphyry) and the Stuhlberg not far from the Jägereiche, a historic plot of land where hunting parties used to meet. Both elevations are 217,2 meters high.
The distinctive spring landscape is also typical of the terminal moraine area. One impressive place is the “Seven Springs Valley” natural monument. Seven clear hillside springs characterize this valley landscape. The springs arise in a very small space and eventually merge into a stream.
In the Dahlen district of Ochsensaal, amphibian lovers will get their money's worth at the "Markusteich". Numerous animal species have settled here, such as the smooth snake and grass snake, the common lizard and the small water frog. At the Graumühle, just north of Dahlen, there are numerous wet meadows where rare species such as the marsh calla, the broad-leaved orchid and some orchid species have found a home. Another gem for nature lovers is the Reudnitz nature reserve, which lies between Reudnitz and Lausa. The area covers an area of around one square kilometre. Located in the nature reserve is the idyllic Hirschbachtal with its numerous ponds. Rare bird species such as the goldeneye, the green sandpiper and the little grebe have settled here. Rare large beetles, such as the stag beetle, and plants such as sundew also find an ideal habitat here. The valley floor of the Hirschbach depression is characterized by an interesting form of the Moorgrass-pine-pedunculate oak forest, which has so far only been found in this form in the Dahlener Heide. The Hirschbach valley is surrounded by beech trees that are up to 140 years old. A thematic hike through the area extends over 8,5 kilometers.
The tree population of the Dahlen Heath is particularly characterized by groups of beech trees. A special feature of the region is the H-beech. It is formed by the merging of two beech trees at a height of almost four meters, which thus forms the appearance of the letter "H". In the large-scale copper beech and pine forests you can find a species-rich fauna with red deer, roe deer, wild boar and fallow deer, badgers, pine and stone martens, polecats, ermines and Elbe beavers. The bird world is also particularly rich in species, for example with chaffinches, starlings, jays, coal tits and pied flycatchers. The occurrence of bird species that prefer to inhabit the old beech stands, such as the black woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, wood warbler, red-breasted flycatcher and stock dove, is remarkable. Due to the high game population, the Dahlen Heath has been a popular hunting area since the beginning of the 16th century. Even today, Wilbret, like local fish, is one of the region’s specialties.
"Sackhupperstadt" Dahlen
The eponymous heath town of Dahlen is the southern gateway to the Dahlen Heath. The most well-known place in the region is the Dahlen district of Schmannewitz. Guests will find numerous accommodation options and a wide range of leisure and recreational activities here. Schmannewitz has a cultural and historical attraction with its baroque village church. The plans for the church, built in 1732, were drawn up by the famous George Bähr. Another attraction is the town church "Unser Lieben Frauen", which looks back on a history of over 500 years. Dahlen is also popularly known as the "Sackhupperstadt". The name comes from a legend according to which a boy could only escape from the enemy camp by hopping in a sack to warn his emperor of the enemy attack. The statue of the Sackhupper on the Dahlen market square is dedicated to this legend.
municipality of Cavertitz
The municipality of Cavertitz with its 12 districts is located on the southern edge of the Dahlener Heide. Worth seeing is the manor house in Lampertswalde, which was built at the end of the 14th century, and the village church, which was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1722. In 1948, the intact moated castle was demolished. The bridge to the island was preserved. Today, visitors can see the well-kept park, rare botanical treasures, a restored garden house and a small castle cafe. Animal lovers will get their money's worth in the Schöna animal enclosure. Anyone looking for an adrenaline rush can try out the shooting range in Sörnewitz. National shooting competitions are held here several times a year.
Rolandstadt Belgern and Gneisenaustadt Schildau
Belgern-Schildau was created in 2013 from the merger of the towns of Belgern and Schildau. Both look back on a history spanning almost 1000 years. In Belgern, the market square is worth seeing, which is surrounded by old town houses. The town's landmark is located on the imposing Renaissance town hall from 1578: the stone Roland, around six meters tall, from 1610. It gives Belgern the nickname "Roland City" as the only town in Germany. Another sight is St. Bartholomew's Church, built in 1512. A memorial stone to the left of the church commemorates Martin Luther's sermon in 1522. The ancient sandstone relief "Mermaid Child" and the "Devil's Horseshoe" attached to the church's outer walls are legendary.
The district of Schildau is considered, along with Schilda in Brandenburg, to be a possible place of origin of the Schildbürgers. The most famous pranks of the Schildbürgers can be admired on 12 picture panels at "original locations". The city walk "On the paths of the Schildbürgers" brings these places together. However, Schildau is also known as the Gneisenau town. The famous field marshal August Graf Neidhardt von Gneisenau, who played a major role in the victories over Napoleon between 1813 and 1815, was born in Schildau. The Gneisenau birthplace, the Gneisenau memorial and the military-historical museum are worth a visit. The three-aisled basilica of the town church of St. Mary (1170) houses a valuable late Gothic carved altar from the late 15th century. Organ lovers can listen to the Vogler organ from 1810 here.
Hikes through the Dahlener Heide
Around 200 kilometers of signposted cycle and hiking trails with signposts to local attractions offer ideal conditions for an extensive nature experience in the heath. A nature trail with information boards provides information about the local flora and fauna. From the heath village of Reudnitz, in the middle of the nature reserve, a tour leads to the center of the Dahlener Heide, the hunter's oak on a 6-way spider. In memory and homage to the Saxon Elector and King of Poland, Frederick Augustus, a memorial column was erected in 1763 after the last court hunt, which can be visited. The state-approved resort of Schmannewitz can be reached via the Stauchitzer Weg. The return route takes the passionate hiker past the pump pond in the direction of the Käthe-Kollwitz-Hütte. The "M-Weg" finally takes you comfortably back to Reudnitz. Another circular hiking trail from Schildau to Schildberg leads past old burial mounds, Heßler's Gorge, Witte's Quarry and the "Seven Springs Valley" back to Schildau. Once you reach the 217-meter-high Schildberg, you can enjoy a far-reaching view over the Dahlener Heide and, in good weather, even see as far as Leipzig and Torgau.
If you prefer to see the idyllic nature at a more leisurely pace, you can take the “Reudnitzer Heideexpress”. This runs every Sunday from Reudnitz to Schmannewitz from April to October. The Dahlen Heath is also a great place to explore by bike. The International Elbe Cycle Route runs close to the historic Rolandstadt Belgern, from where you can cycle through the heath and the neighboring towns. You can also discover the charming Dahlen Heath on several interesting circular hiking trails. The Luther Trail Saxony stretches over 550 kilometers to 27 stations through Saxony that are connected to the Reformation. It also leads through Schildau, where Martin Luther preached in 1522.
From the “Dead Oak” to the “Nixen Pond”
The Dahlen Heath is peppered with interesting waypoints that can be discovered via hiking trails. The memorial site "Brehms Ruhe", built in 1934, is dedicated to the famous zoologist Dr. Alfred Edmund Brehm, who stayed in Schmannewitz several times as a hunting guest between 1876 and 1884. Anyone who hears of the "Dead Maid" is referring to a place in the Dahlen Heath where a maid was supposedly struck by lightning. Hikers still lay small floral tributes in her honor. Legend has it that at the Nixentümpel rest area, curious young men were pulled into the water by beautiful mermaids and were never seen again.
Events in the Dahlener Heide
Heath walking takes place every year in April and September. From Schmannewitz, you can experience Nordic walking under professional guidance along an impressive natural backdrop. Since 1995, the enduro sports event "Around Dahlen" has taken place in the Dahlen area in spring. This attracts many international guests every year.
Important facts at one glance
The Dahlen Heath is a 150 square meter landscape conservation area between the Elbe and Mulde in northern Saxony. The extensive forest area with its unique natural landscape is characterized by coniferous and mixed forests and is crossed by stream valleys and floodplain meadows. The Dresden-Leipzig regional connection takes you to Dahlen from Leipzig in about 30 minutes. The town is in the MDV network area and is connected by the Omnibus-Verkehrsgesellschaft Heideland and other regional bus lines.