Explore Hohenleipisch along trails through orchard landscapes and moorland, or discover its pottery history. For planning, it is worth checking the route length and theme: two hiking trails start in the village, and another marked route begins nearby.
Hiking between orchards and moorland
The 11-kilometre Orchard and Mining Trail starts in Hohenleipisch. Along the way, it links flowering meadows and the diversity of the orchards with former raw-material extraction pits. The 8-kilometre “In the Realm of the Blossom Queen” trail also starts in the village. It explores the southern fruit-growing region of the nature park, where old cherry trees shape the landscape.
Both trails start in Hohenleipisch; at eight rather than eleven kilometres, “In the Realm of the Blossom Queen” is the shorter of the two local routes. A third option is the marked “Exploring the Moorland Area: Der Loben” trail, about 8 kilometres long, which starts near Hohenleipisch. This gives you a choice of two different orchard and mining themes and one moorland theme, though route length alone does not indicate what a trail is like.
Der Loben is considered one of the last large, largely intact moorland areas in southern Brandenburg. The themed trail follows well-maintained paths and has information panels, a viewing tower and a sun deck. Hohenleipisch Nature Reserve covers around 169 hectares. Within it, about 88 hectares are designated for natural development and are protected from direct human influence. Among other things, the area protects a large, continuous and largely undisturbed forest with pine-rich mixed oak woods and many dwarf shrubs. Around the Hohenleipisch bunkers, an old, structurally diverse oak forest provides bats with important hunting grounds.
Church and pottery tradition
The village’s history can also be traced through specific landmarks. Hohenleipisch’s Protestant church was built in 1208 and has a distinctive, restored tower. As of 31 December 2017, it is listed in Brandenburg’s register of historic monuments under ID 09135411. If you would like to see the church interior, check access arrangements in advance.
Rich local clay deposits and pottery skills passed down through generations made Hohenleipisch an important pottery centre. Töpferei Lück and Töpferei Biebach carry on this tradition, making handmade tableware, garden ceramics and decorative items. The workshop of Töpferei Anett Lück displays ceramic pieces from the museum, including the grey stoneware particularly associated with Hohenleipisch. Exhibitions and offerings may change, so it is worth enquiring in advance if you have a specific visit in mind.
At creative events at Töpferei Anett Lück, visitors can decorate items made from prepared clay forms. Confirm that these events are available before your visit. This lets you combine a visit to the workshops with a look at the local craft tradition, without reducing the village’s history to a few individual exhibits.
Fruit growing and cycling routes
Hohenleipisch is associated with growing cherries and strawberries. On a public orchard meadow between Hohenleipisch and Kraupa, you can pick fruit for personal use, depending on the season. What is available to pick depends on the fruit in season. The area’s connection to fruit growing is also reflected in the approximately 50-kilometre Apple Route: it passes through Hohenleipisch and Döllingen and has information stops about apples. Check the route details again before setting out.
Nearby in Döllingen, the approximately three-hectare pomological display and teaching garden offers another focus on fruit. It highlights old varieties of apples, pears and other fruits. Together, the hiking trails, cycling route and pottery workshops offer different ways to explore Hohenleipisch and its surroundings: on foot, with views of orchards or moorland; by bike, following the apple theme; or with more time to explore local craft traditions.
Discover more destinations: Wahrenbrück, Plessa, Schlieben, Gröden, Finsterwalde, Sonnewalde, Fichtwald, Mühlberg.
Go to the overview of the wider region: Elbe-Elster.
