- 07: 00 pm
- 3 m
- 22 m
- 105 m
- 127 m
- 22 m
- 27,45 km
- Start: Pegau, Schützenplatz
- Destination: Leipzig, city harbor
Things are less turbulent on the White Elster between Pegau and Leipzig.
The White Elster flows through the historic old town of Pegau, which is known for its pretty Renaissance town hall and the St. Laurentius Church with the gravestone of Margrave Wiprecht von Groitzsch and its Kreutzbach organ. The boat dock at Pegau Schützenplatz offers two large covered rest areas and several caravan pitches. From here, experienced canoeists can start the approximately 27-kilometer-long water course towards Leipzig.
On this stretch, it is still necessary to carry the boats past three weirs, but the beauty of the largely untouched floodplain landscape makes this paddling tour an unforgettable experience.
Good to know
Best Season
Directions
- START: 27,5 km Pegau
Entry possibility at the Schützenplatz (at normal water level behind the weir threshold under the road bridge), parking possibility for cars available
- 21,0 km Kleindalzig settling basin
Be careful when entering! After the exit there are small rapids, from about 200 m before the basin the Weiße Elster flows to Hartmannsdorf in the artificially created riverbed around the former Zwenkau open-cast mine.
- 17,9 km Zitzschen
Bridge with small rapids.
- 13,0 km gradient Hartmannsdorf
Caution, danger to life, 3 m high weir! Carry the boat to the left just after the S 186 bridge to Knautnaundorf, possibility to launch behind the weir on the concrete ramp. Caution, slippery concrete embankment when wet!
- 12,9 km Hartmannsdorf
Entry point for the half-day tour is at the concrete ramp below the weir, parking space for cars is available. Be careful, the concrete embankment is slippery when wet!
- 10,4 km Knauthain distribution weir
Caution weir! The weir is navigable when the gates are open. The weir is closed during high water - no navigation. Danger to life! Last exit before the Zschocherscher Winkel nature priority area. Do not continue driving during the special protection period.
***Zschocherscher Winkel nature priority area: To protect the valuable natural area, please refrain from navigating during the protection period from 15 February to 15 May and please observe the "10 rules for navigating rivers".***
- 9,8 km bridge Ritter-Pflugk-Straße
Be careful of the current! Start of the old riverbed of the White Elster.
- 7,1 km Großzschocher weir
Be careful of the weir! Carry around to the right. Danger to life, do not use the channel in the middle! Keep your distance from the backflow of the weir, end of the nature priority area.
- 7,0 km Sportverein Südwest e. V.
Caution, larger area with stronger current!
- 6,0 km bridge S 46
Smaller current, keep in the middle.
- 5,5 km Brückenstraße / junction
Possibility of deployment during the special protection period, parking facility for cars available.
- 4,7 km Großzschocher dividing weir
Caution weir, danger to life! Strong current, please pass at a sufficient distance along the left bank.
- 4,6 km Elster flood bed portage
Portage into the Elster flood bed above the training course past the club grounds of the Leipziger Kanu-Club eV, mooring available.
- 1,7 km horse racing track
Pier at the racecourse. Access via the racecourse path, parking available.
- 0,8 km mouth of the Elstermühlgraben
Caution: Danger to life at the Palmengarten weir! Keep your distance, turn right under the Peterssteg into the Elstermühlgraben.
- DESTINATION: Leipzig City Harbor
Exit at the pier, parking available.
Arrival & Parking
Schützenplatz, Pegau
ZUG: HP Pegau
BUS: HP Pegau, Kirchplatz or Elsteraue
city harbor, Leipzig
TRAM: HP Leipzig, Westplatz (Leipzig Central Station - approx. 1,5 kilometers away)
More information / links
Facts about Course 1a
Difficulty level: for experienced paddlers
Length: about 27,5 km
Locks: none
Portage: 3x from the Pegau boarding point, 2x from the Hartmannsdorf boarding point (boat trolley helpful)
Fully usable for: Canoe (navigable downstream)
Sectionally usable for: LeipzigBoat/Boats adapted to waterways (Elsterflutbett, Elstermühlgraben), Rowing boat (Elsterflutbett, Elstermühlgraben) / Passenger shipping (Elstermühlgraben, Elsterflutbett)
Further water hiking courses and information on the tourist water network in Leipzig’s New Lake District can be found on www.gewaesserverbund.de.
author
Verena Daser
Organization
LEIPZIG REGION
safety instructions
Be careful, danger spots!
- Gradient level Hartmannsdorf: 3 m high weir, carry the boat in time before the weir
- Knauthain distribution weir: The weir is only navigable when the gates are open, otherwise you have to carry your boat around!
- Großzschocher fire department: The sign for the weir is just behind the bridge in Knauthain, which means it is well before the weir. There are no further signs to the weir in Großzschocher. At the weir, portage to the right and keep your distance from the weir's back current. Do not use the channel in the middle or the boat slide.
- Großzschocher division weir: strong current, please pass at a sufficient distance along the left bank
- Palmengartenwehr: keep distance
