With Waldsee and Halbendorfer See, Groß Düben offers two different starting points for a stay by the water. Waldsee has a swimming and fishing pond, recreational grounds and overnight accommodation. At Halbendorfer See, water activities meet a landscape shaped by lignite mining and protected stretches of shoreline. The Frog Cycle Route also passes through Halbendorf. Which aspect you focus on depends on whether you are mainly interested in a swimming lake and accommodation, or in cycling routes and nature.
Waldsee: A Swimming Lake with a Mining History
Waldsee was formed from the former Sophie lignite mine. Today, it is a swimming and fishing pond and part of the Lusatian Lake District. It is approximately 380 metres long, 160 metres wide and 13 to 15 metres deep. Described as Saxony’s north-easternmost swimming lake, it combines a distinctive geographical location with opportunities to enjoy the water.
The grounds include a volleyball facility, a bowling alley, an outdoor table-tennis table and a children’s playground. If these facilities are important to your plans, check their current condition before your trip. This will help you plan your visit to Waldsee around the facilities that are actually available.
Halbendorfer See: Water Activities and Protected Shores
Halbendorfer See is in the Halbendorf district of Groß Düben. It was formed from an open-cast lignite mine dating back to the 1960s; the area was subsequently recultivated. It covers around 120 hectares and reaches depths of up to 27 metres. The lake therefore offers a glimpse of both the history of mining and the subsequent recultivation.
Activities associated with Halbendorfer See include paddling, rowing, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, diving, electric and pedal boating, water skiing, wakeboarding and AquaPark activities. Water-use rights and facilities vary by season. Do not assume that sailing, windsurfing and diving are available without restrictions; check in advance what is currently operating.
Parts of the lake’s recreational area are within a landscape conservation area. Some sections of the lake and shore are set aside for nature conservation and can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. This restriction applies to certain areas, not the entire lakeshore.
Cycling and Halbendorf’s Local History
The international Frog Cycle Route passes through Halbendorf and leads past landscapes rich in flora and fauna to local sights. Signage and route conditions can change; check the latest cycling information before setting out. This allows you to plan the cycle route as a separate focus without assuming a particular distance or journey time.
Halbendorf was first documented in 1597 under its old Sorbian name, Breslug. Its present-day Sorbian name is Brezowka. Local life also includes the annual Neptune Festival and the Sorbian Easter Egg Festival. These names and traditions add a cultural perspective on the district to its landscape and mining history.
Accommodation and Planning Your Stay
Six low-roofed bungalows and a villa at Waldsee offer overnight accommodation. Check availability before your trip.
Different questions can help you choose between the two lakes: Waldsee is centred on its swimming pond, fishing, facilities on the grounds and lakeside accommodation. Halbendorfer See offers a variety of seasonal water activities, protected shore areas and the cycle route through Halbendorf. Take these differences into account when planning and check the latest conditions in advance for any activities you would like to include.
Discover more destinations: Rietschen, Ostritz, Seifhennersdorf, Bad Muskau, Herrnhut, Großhennersdorf, Beiersdorf, Reichenbach/Oberlausitz
Go to the main travel overview: Görlitz.
