Hike around the Great Pond Torgau

13.72 km long

Difficulty: easy

Condition: very easy

Hiking

Schloss Hartenfels in Torgau direkt an der Elbe — CC-BY | Philipp Kirschner, LEIPZIG REGION

3:30 h
13.72 km
31 m
31 m
82 m
96 m
14 m
Start: Torgau train station
Destination: Torgau train station

The hiking route takes you past the old town of Torgau with its cultural and historical sights to the Great Pond.

The hiking route leads from the historic old town of Torgau with its cultural and historical sights such as the impressive Hartenfels Castle, the Renaissance-style town hall and the magnificent patrician houses to the Great Pond in the south. This was artificially created as a fish pond in 1483 and is still used as such today. As a European bird sanctuary, Saxony's largest pond makes an important contribution to environmental protection and nature conservation. The Biberhof, an educational center for nature and the environment, is a worthwhile excursion tip with its permanent exhibition on local wildlife.

Pavements

Asphalt

Gravel

Trail

Path

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Directions

After arriving by train, the first stop is the historic old town of Torgau. Particular highlights are Hartenfels Castle and St. Mary's Church, where Luther's wife Katharina found her final resting place. After the exploration tour, you leave the city center via Schlossstrasse and Leipziger Strasse in a westerly direction and cross the city park, the Schwarzer Graben river and the B182. Via Röhrweg and Thomas-Müntzer-Straße you reach the Great Pond. This was artificially created as a fish pond by decree of the Electorate of Saxony in 1483/84 and today has a water surface area of around 175 hectares and a depth of 1.5 to 2 meters. Every year at the beginning of November, fishing on the Great Pond attracts many visitors from near and far. More than 100 bird species find their breeding grounds in the extensive reed belt of the shore zone, which is why Saxony's largest pond also enjoys international importance as a European bird sanctuary. For example, the reed warbler, cuckoo, mute swan and pied rail are at home here. Even water rail, kingfisher and grey heron feel at home here. Turning left, you soon come to the Ellergraben, which accompanies you all the way to Pflückuff. Shortly before the village you will find the Biberhof, a station set up by the Nature Conservation Association in 1995, whose staff focus on the active protection of beavers. In Pflückuff, continue right along the An der Bahn road. Once in the forest area, the hiking trail leads you at a right angle first to the left and then to the right. Follow the former Torgau-Belgern railroad line, which has been converted into a hiking trail here, so that you can easily reach the western shore of the Großer Teich. Passing Entenfang, Zinnaer Flut and Röhrgraben, you reach Tunierplatzweg, which you follow until it joins Thomas-Müntzer-Straße. Here the hiking route leads back to the town park. In the city park, a path to the north leads you to the train station.

Tour information

Cultural Interesting

Equipment

Sturdy shoes, weatherproof clothing, provisions and sun protection if necessary.

Directions & Parking facilities

To Torgau:

Freeway

A9 Munich-Berlin → Schkeuditzer Kreuz → then A14 → Leipzig Nord-Ost exit (50 km)
A9 Berlin-Munich → Coswig exit → via Wittenberg to Torgau (approx. 70 km)
A14 Dresden-Halle → Mutzschen exit → via Wermsdorf to Torgau (approx. 40 km)
A14 Halle-Dresden → Leipzig Nord-Ost exit → via Eilenburg to Torgau (approx. 50 km)
A13 Berlin-Dresden → Duben exit (approx. 70 km)

Federal highway