Gräfenhainichen combines printing and mining history with lakes, art trails, and nature. Tailor your hotel search to what you would like to experience locally.
Discover the lakes and landscape
The landscape around Gräfenhainichen includes two flooded former open-pit mines: Lake Gremminer and Lake Gröberner. Lake Gremminer has four designated bathing areas along its southern and western shores. Before swimming, observe the local safety notices. The lake is also designated for diving; check the permits and local conditions before diving. Swimming and diving are therefore separate options, each with its own notices and requirements to consider.
Ferropolis and the history of mining
Ferropolis, an industrial museum with five large open-pit mining machines, is located on a peninsula in Lake Gremminer. The machines can be viewed year-round, and visitors can enter one of them. Access may be restricted at times due to maintenance work. Outside event times, you can explore Ferropolis on a guided tour or on your own with an audio guide. These are two different ways to visit: you can have a guide accompany you or explore the exhibition independently.
The 30-KV station at Ferropolis is also part of the region’s mining history. It houses a museum on the history of mining in the region. Together, the outdoor machines and the museum in the station offer different perspectives on the subject: the large technical installations on the one hand, and regional history on the other.
Printing history, church, and crafts
The book-printing museum displays printing presses and equipment from various eras, including working examples. It also explains the history of printing in Gräfenhainichen. Guided tours can be arranged by appointment. If you plan to visit, be sure to arrange a time in advance.
The Protestant St. Mary’s Church is believed to have roots dating back to the Romanesque period. Its present appearance was shaped by the Baroque renovation carried out between 1658 and 1666. The church thus brings together medieval origins and a much later phase of construction. The pottery studio offers another way to experience local culture: visitors can try the potter’s wheel and browse a shop selling handmade ceramics. As opening arrangements may vary, it is best to check before your visit.
Art trails and tours
The Art and History Trail features steel artworks along the route from the Stadtbalkon towards Ferropolis and Radis. The Stadtbalkon also provides access to a cycling tour on the International R1 route. These offer two different starting points for planning: the trail focuses on the artworks along its route, while the R1 opens up another option as a cycling route.
The beaver observation tower is on Försterweg, between Bauerhaus and Lutherstein. From here, you can enjoy a viewpoint over a landscape shaped by beavers. Gräfenhainichen is also considered a gateway to the Dübener Heide. This 770-square-kilometre mixed-forest nature park has extensive hiking, cycling, and riding trails. Animals found here include beavers, deer, cranes, storks, and ospreys. The natural setting therefore extends beyond the flooded former open-pit mines to a landscape with a variety of trails and wildlife.
Getting here by car
Road directions to Gräfenhainichen include the A9 between Berlin and Munich, the Dessau-Ost exit, and the B107 towards Oranienbaum-Wörlitz. Check current road conditions before you set off.
Discover more destinations: Oranienbaum-Wörlitz, Jessen, Bad Schmiedeberg, Zahna-Elster, Annaburg, Griesen, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Kemberg
For the main travel overview: Wittenberg.
