A history of the castle, an extensive art collection and routes by the water give a stay in Senftenberg a range of possible focuses. In the town centre’s castle park are the Museum of Senftenberg Castle and Fortress and the Lusatia Art Collection – between the market square and the town harbour. If you would like to combine culture with activities by the lake, you can also explore Marga Garden City, the circular route and the harbour camp in Großkoschen.
Castle, Fortress and Art Collection
The Renaissance complex of Senftenberg Castle and Fortress was built in the 16th century to secure the Saxon border. Its foundations date back to a medieval castle. The Museum of Senftenberg Castle and Fortress and the Lusatia Art Collection are located in the castle park. This brings local history and visual art together in one place, without needing to visit different parts of the town.
The Lusatia Art Collection comprises more than 2,500 works by over 130 painters, graphic artists and sculptors. Artists represented include Ernst Barlach and Carl Lohse. Its wide range makes the collection a focus in its own right alongside the history of the complex. When planning your visit, you can explore both themes together or focus your stay more on one of them.
Marga Garden City: another era
Marga Garden City is located in the district of Brieske. It was built in the late Art Nouveau style in the early 20th century as a residential settlement for workers of Ilse Bergbau AG and is considered Germany’s oldest garden city. This places early industrial history alongside the much older castle complex: the two sites tell stories of different periods and purposes.
An interactive experience and wayfinding system guides visitors through Marga’s history at eleven stops. You can explore them on foot or by bicycle. This provides a clearly defined second focus for your visit if, alongside the castle and art, you would also like to learn about the development of a historic residential settlement.
Lake Senftenberg and route options
The town of Senftenberg, with its six districts, surrounds Lake Senftenberg. The town harbour has berths for up to 120 recreational boats and associated service facilities. A viewing balcony at the harbour offers a view of the lake. The location combines harbour facilities with a viewpoint, while routes around the water offer different starting points and options.
The 18-kilometre circular route around Lake Senftenberg is recommended for cyclists; Großkoschen is listed as both the starting point and destination. By contrast, the Seenland Route starts at the town harbour. When planning, it helps to distinguish between a circular route with a specified start and finish and a route that starts at the harbour. The “Santa Barbara” passenger boat operates on the lake and allows cyclists to shorten part of the circular route. If you plan to use this option, check the timetable in advance.
Water activities in Großkoschen
At the harbour camp in the district of Großkoschen, Expeditours offers taster courses in sailing and stand-up paddling. The provider also rents out rowing boats, pedal boats, canoes, sailboats and motorboats there. The different types of boat offer a range of ways to enjoy the water; rental boat availability may vary. Check current availability before your visit.
Groups can also request a custom guided tour of Senftenberg. For a self-guided outing, the tourist information office offers a puzzle trail for the whole family: it takes you on a short walk from Senftenberg’s old town to Lake Senftenberg and is available for a fee of €1.00.
Nearby, the Koschen Canal connects Lake Senftenberg with Lake Geierswalde. It is the first navigable waterway in the Lusatian Lake District. This waterway connection complements the activities on the lake and the routes that start in Senftenberg or Großkoschen.
Discover more destinations: Hosena, Großkoschen, Vetschau/Spreewald, Luckaitztal, Großkmehlen, Raddusch, Altdöbern, Calau.
Go to the higher-level travel overview: Oberspreewald-Lausitz.
