Parthequelle Gossenborn

The main source of the Parthe River, the Gossenborn – named after the wooded area known as Gossa in the 15th/16th centuries – lies approximately five kilometers northeast of Bad Lausick in the heart of the Colditz Forest. Together with the adjacent Glasten Forest, they form one of the largest forested areas in Saxony. For over 100 years, the Colditz and Glasten Forests have been popular recreational areas. The Gossenborn, with its gentle babbling, invites visitors to linger. Along the path, a nature trail introduces visitors to the local flora and fauna, making it a particularly good destination for families.

The spring, rising 208 meters above sea level, is part of a fan of more than ten individual streams. The Parthe River, which develops from this source, meanders through numerous towns and villages and, after approximately 58 kilometers and a descent of 105 meters, flows into the White Elster River in Leipzig-Gohlis. The name Parthe comes from Slavic and means "the stinking one." From the village of Parthenstein onward, the river follows the early Saale glacial riverbed of the Leipzig Mulde, which was carved out by the latter more than 150.000 years ago. The gravel and sand deposits now mined in the open-cast mines near Naunhof were laid down during this period.

The Parthe's catchment area covers approximately 360 square kilometers. The 51-kilometer-long Parthe-Mulde Cycle Route runs parallel to the Parthe for much of its length, leading from Grimma via Naunhof, Borsdorf, and Taucha to Leipzig through the charming cultural landscape. Large sections of the river's course are protected as the Parthenaue-Machern Landscape Conservation Area.