The Schlossinsel, covering almost six hectares, is a green space in the town centre and a destination for families and visitors. The water playground features an artificial waterfall, a slide, wooden rafts, water channels, locks and an excavator. But Lübben can be explored through more than just water and greenery: historic buildings, town tours and trails leading to a variety of destinations add to the picture. When planning your stay, it is worth keeping these different highlights in mind.

Water, Urban Green Spaces and Trails

The SpreeLagune is right next to the Schlossinsel. This natural bathing area includes a beach, a rest stop for waterway travellers, a rope-climbing bridge and a raft crossing. If you would like to explore Lübben from the water, you can take a traditional Spreewald punt along the waterways of the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve.

There are also various ways to discover the town and its surroundings on foot. A nine-kilometre Nordic walking route starts and ends on the Schlossinsel. The flat, 16-kilometre Fischtour, by contrast, runs from Lübben to Schlepzig, following the main branch of the Spree between meadows and forests. The two routes differ considerably in length, course and destination.

A hike from Lübben via Barzlin to Lübbenau passes through the town centre by the Lübbener Hain, the Brückenplatz with historic remains of the town wall, the market square with St. Paul’s Church, Gerichtsstraße, Lübben Castle and the Schlossinsel. The route then leaves Lübben’s last district. Those interested in a longer trail can explore a different scale with the 140-kilometre Paul-Gerhardt-Weg, recently redesigned and signposted. It connects important stages in the life of the hymn writer, including Lübben, Mittenwalde and St. Nicholas’ Church in Berlin-Mitte, and runs from central Berlin through the Dahme-Seenland region to the Spreewald.

The Lübbener Hain lies in the heart of the town and is known for its rare vegetation and pedunculate oaks reaching up to 30 metres in height. The tactile town model makes the layout of the town centre accessible by touch and is particularly helpful for visitors with accessibility needs to find their way around.

Buildings and Lübben’s History

St. Paul’s Church in the town centre is Late Gothic and was built after the town fire of 1494. Two sections remain of the 14th-century town wall: the Napoleondurchbruch near Reutergasse and the larger section at Brückenplatz by the Spree. The latter is now considered a landmark. The wall consists of a fieldstone base and brick masonry.

The Lübben Castle Museum tells the story of Lübben as a former royal residence across three distinct locations: a medieval defensive tower, a Renaissance castle and a Baroque coat-of-arms hall. The Slavic rampart known as “Burglehn”, an archaeological monument, also offers a historical point of reference; it was in use until the 13th century.

The Paul-Gerhardt-Zentrum is dedicated to the hymn writer Paul Gerhardt. It explores his life and work and the international spread of his songs. The centre offers guided tours, readings, concerts, lectures, listening stations and exhibitions. On town tours, you can also discover Lübben from the perspective of the night watchman or the tower keeper, or explore the town with a guide.

Markets and Annual Events

The Lübbener Spreewaldfest takes place once a year in the town centre on the third weekend in September. Arts and crafts, regional specialities, music and sporting competitions are part of the programme; the festival is considered a celebration of regional culture and living traditions. The programme may vary from year to year, so it is worth checking the current dates.

More than 40 vendors sell regional products at the weekly market, where visitors can buy directly from the producers. The number of vendors may change. The Quark-Leinöl-Meile is also a culinary event: held every two years, it invites visitors to sample, taste and enjoy local food. It is organised by the Lübben and Surroundings Tourism Association, local hospitality businesses and regional craftspeople.

When looking for a hotel in Lübben, it is worth considering your planned itinerary: the 140-kilometre Paul-Gerhardt-Weg connects important stages in the life of the hymn writer, including Lübben.

Discover more destinations: Schlepzig, Rietzneuendorf-Staakow, Märkische Heide, Schönefeld, Spreewaldheide, Groß Köris, Königs Wusterhausen, Drahnsdorf

Go to the regional travel overview: Dahme-Spreewald.