Artist studios, galleries, museums and technical monuments have now moved into the former factory halls, revitalising the cultural scene. Special tours on the subject of industrial culture are ideal for individual exploration.
Mining Technology Park at Störmthaler See
The Leipzig New Lake District owes its existence to decades of mining, refining and using the natural resource of brown coal. On around 5,4 hectares of open-cast mining terrain, the Mining Technology Park on Lake Störmthal presents the complete mining cycle of an open-cast mining operation in an authentic and comprehensible way. The range extends from the dismantling of the cultivated landscape to the preparation of the forecourt and the lowering of the groundwater, to the movement of overburden and coal mining, to the reconstruction of the site and the rehabilitation of entire landscape areas. Young and old visitors, those interested in technology, families, school classes, railway fans, former miners and those affected by mining can learn a lot of interesting things in the park or be transported back to the old days. The centrepiece of the exhibition are two large machines from the former Espenhain opencast mine - the bucket wheel excavator 1547 (1.300 tonnes, built in 1986) and the conveyor discharge device (stacker) 1115 (2.400 tonnes, built in 1985). Work is underway to make the two large machines accessible to visitors. In adjacent exhibition areas, detailed information is provided on individual aspects of the technical and logistical areas. In addition to the two large machines, various rail and drainage technology that was used in opencast mining can be viewed. Also very interesting are the two command cabs of the overburden conveyor bridge from the Zwenkau opencast mine, which was blown up in 2001 and now houses the cash desk and an exhibition room. In the exit area, visitors can view the E-house, the last remaining transformer house of the Espenhain opencast mine. This is where the electrical voltage required to operate the large machines was generated. Today, there is also an exhibition room here. In the rear area of the mining technology park, the loss of homeland and the disappearance of entire villages associated with open-cast mining are remembered. The entire park area is accessible to visitors through 24 panels in the corresponding exhibition areas. The explanatory texts, accompanied by pictures, are divided into sections for children and adults. In the in-depth, 60-minute tours, an overview of the entire mining cycle is given during the tour around the bucket wheel excavator. The 90-minute tours by former employees of the Espenhain open-cast mine, as well as the audio guides in German and English, provide insights into the equipment and tell of the eventful working life.
Horse-drawn tram in the boot town of Döbeln
The origin of all of today's local transport can be seen in the boot-shaped town of Döbeln. At the end of the 19th century, there were over 90 towns in Germany and as many as 1.700 horse-drawn trams worldwide - one of them in Döbeln. The old Döbeln horse-drawn tram operated from 1892 to 1926 as a means of local public transport on a 2,5-kilometer route from the main station to the city center. Since June 2007, you can experience the nostalgic feeling of the past on the faithfully restored Döbeln horse-drawn tram, which is unique in Germany, on a one-kilometer-long track in the city center. A museum has also been set up in Döbeln, which shows images and exhibits on the subject of horse-drawn trams. The eventful and sometimes curious history of the horse-drawn tram is presented on 50 display boards.
Historic narrow-gauge railway "Wilder Robert" between Mügeln and Oschatz
The "Wild Robert" is a characteristic feature of the region around Mügeln and Oschatz. The roots of the narrow-gauge railway go back a long way into history. While countless industrial companies settled in the Saxon metropolitan areas of Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz in the second half of the 19th century, the areas of central and northern Saxony were primarily characterized by agriculture. In the area around Mügeln, the history of the railway and thus the industrial development of the region began in 1884 with a provisionally set up beet transport. Over time, the route network of the small narrow-gauge railway was continually expanded and reached its greatest extent at 91,7 kilometers. The "Wild Robert" not only transported agricultural products, but also kaolin until 2001, which is still mined in nearby Kemmlitz today. The transport of kaolin by the narrow-gauge railway ensured the existence of the railway for 98 years and was the main transported goods for many decades. Today, the Döllnitz Railway performs its tasks just as reliably as it did over 125 years ago. With its steam and diesel locomotives, the narrow-gauge railway is one of the most important tourism factors in the region and is not just an attraction for railway enthusiasts. Whole generations have grown up with and are familiar with the puffing sound of the Döllnitz Railway. The journey with the "Wild Robert" begins in Oschatz. It travels along the Döllnitz river, past the park and the Rosenthal. After a 20-minute journey, the Döllnitz Railway leaves Oschatz in the direction of Mügeln and delves into the meadows and floodplain landscapes of the Döllnitz Valley. After a 15-kilometer journey, guests reach what was once Germany's largest narrow-gauge railway station in Mügeln. Once there, there is time for a short rest and the opportunity to explore the station a little more closely. Embedded in the Porphyrland Steinreich Geopark in Saxony, the world of kaolin can be explored in the Mügeln Station Geoportal. Visitors are treated to a multimedia experience that begins with the rock kaolin and extends to the development of the regional ceramics industry. Information is also provided about what was once the largest narrow-gauge network in Germany. The train then sets off again on a narrow-gauge track to Glossen or Kemmlitz. In Glossen, it is possible to change to the historic field railway on certain days.
Feldbahn Glossen – A train ride in an open car
The disused quartzite quarry in Glossen, with its field railway and functioning stone crusher and bucket chain excavator, is an important testimony to mining and industrial history. Anyone arriving on the "Wild Robert" will experience the change from the 750 mm to the 600 mm gauge of the field railway at Glossen station. Public trips have been taking place here since 1995. The loading ramp, where quartzite rock was loaded onto the "Wild Robert" wagons until 1972, is now a transfer station for visitors. In 2002, the line to the former Glossen station was reopened. Here, the club members demonstrated their craftsmanship skills when they got the dilapidated stone crusher plant back into operation and ready for demonstration. The one-hour round trip on the field railway goes over two bridges up to the quarry. The short stops offer opportunities to take photos and take short tours. There are information boards that invite you to look around and provide information about the use of the rock or the technology that was used in the past. There are also boards dedicated to nature conservation that provide information about the flora and fauna.
The technical monument – Erbs brickworks in Pegau
The Erbs brickworks, a technical monument, was founded in 1909 by Julius Erbs and began producing 1911 million bricks a year in 2,5. The raw material was alluvial clay. The demand for bricks was particularly high in the regional market, for example after the war for the reconstruction of the Leipzig Opera. A dozen women and men did the hard work for the Erbs and Zobel families in the season from spring to winter. The drying shed and kiln are still preserved in almost their original condition today. The bucket chain excavator, tipping wagon track, Berlin trestle cart and digging wood are even functional. In the mid-1970s, the brickworks stopped production due to the illness of the last brickworks owner, Walter Zobel. In 1980, the building was listed as a historical monument and restored in 1992/93. Since 1994, the brickworks has been open to the public as a technical monument. Today, schools and other educational institutions make the Erbs brickworks the destination for hiking days. The restored technical systems and facilities can be used to demonstrate how bricks (masonry blocks) were manufactured in the first half of the 20th century. This also includes the pre-industrial hand-molding process.
Grimma suspension bridge
Saxony's longest suspension bridge spans the Mulde near Grimma at 80 meters. It connects the city area with the city park on the opposite bank of the Mulde. The suspension bridge was built in 1924, blown up in 1945 and rebuilt four years later as a riveted structure. During the two floods in 2002 and 2013 it was badly damaged, so that it was inaccessible for several months. Today it has been fully restored and is often used by hikers and cyclists.
Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill in Transition
Over 130 years ago, the Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei AG bought a plot of land of around 10 hectares in the west of Leipzig and built the largest cotton spinning mill in continental Europe on it by 1907. This fascinating factory town with workers' housing, garden settlements and its own kindergarten is still completely intact today. Since the cotton yarn production was discontinued in 1992, the place has been undergoing constant change. Where over 240.000 spindles once turned every day, there is now a center of the European art scene. Between the characteristic brick buildings, the tour of the Spinnereigalleries, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors three times a year.
From Combined Heat and Power Plant to Artificial Power Plant
From 1964 to 1992, fires burned in three huge coal furnaces in the boiler house of the Leipzig combined heat and power plant in Lindenau, fed by coal bunkers, fanned by compressed air, monitored by boiler attendants, shift supervisors, and ash men. The thermal energy generated was used to heat water and supply it via pipes to industrial plants in western Leipzig. The power plant was shut down in 1992. In 2012, Markus Löffler, director of the Institute for Medical Informatics, and architect Ulrich Maldinger bought the building. In 2015, it began to be used as a venue for 360° video shows, art exhibitions, theater, and concerts under the name Kunstkraftwerk. It was important to the operators that the character of the industrial building was preserved. The focus is on immersive art projects that correspond in an extraordinary way with their industrial surroundings. The largest video projection system in Germany ensures expansive experiences.