Werben combines a cycling theme and a hiking option with local history full of specific details. The Protestant Church of Werben is close to the Gurkenradweg and has been a cycle route church since 2014. Werben was also once a Sorbian village, laid out as a green village around a central village green. When planning your stay, you can choose between a cycling route, a hiking stage and historical highlights.
Cycling and hiking
The Gurkenradweg has gentle gradients and is considered suitable for experienced cyclists as well as families with children. The Protestant Church of Werben is close to the route. This means that both the route profile and a church building as a point of reference feature in the cycling theme.
Another touring option is the E10 European long-distance footpath: an 18 km section runs from Werben to Cottbus’s old town. You can include the distance in your stay as a standalone hiking stage. The route description was updated on 9 July 2025; check the latest route information before setting out. This will help you decide whether the stage suits your planned stay.
Local history and the church
As a former Sorbian village, Werben was laid out around a central village green. The term describes a settlement layout in which buildings are grouped around a village green. Werben was first mentioned in a document from the Diocese of Meissen in 1346. The date marks its first documented mention, not the beginning of settlement. The village layout and the document thus offer different historical perspectives.
The Protestant Church of Werben was built after 1311 in the Brick Gothic style. Its interior includes a baptismal angel and a ceiling richly painted with fruit and vegetable motifs. The church is open daily between Easter and Reformation Day. Check seasonal opening hours before your visit.
Spree-Neiße as a wider travel destination
The wider travel destination of Spree-Neiße offers further regional themes. The East German Rose Garden in Forst (Lausitz) is a 17-hectare park where visitors can admire tens of thousands of roses in almost 1,000 varieties. This offers a distinct focus on gardens and variety alongside Werben’s village and church history.
Another regional cycling theme is the Spree Cycle Route. It crosses the Spree-Neiße region for around 60 kilometres and runs mostly along paved river dikes. The Sorbian Impressions tour offers insights into the lives and traditions of the Sorbian/Wendish minority living in the region. The UNESCO Muskau Arch Geopark is also one of the scenic highlights of Spree-Neiße district.
The Archaeotechnical Centre in Welzow is an interactive museum with extensive outdoor grounds and the exhibition “People – Wood – Archaeology”. Events and workshops are open to the general public; registration is always required. Check the current programme in advance.
Spreewald culinary specialities include pickled gherkins in sour, spiced or mustard varieties, linseed oil with quark, yeast pancakes and Spreewald fish. They also form a regional theme within the wider travel destination of Spree-Neiße.
Discover more destinations: Tauer, Groß Schacksdorf-Simmersdorf, Teichland, Spremberg, Guben, Döbern, Peitz, Schenkendöbern.
See the wider travel overview: Spree-Neiße.
