Discover Bernsdorf: Forest Swimming Pool, Cycling Routes and Local History

Bernsdorf offers a variety of ways to enjoy a stay: nature at the forest swimming pool and in the pond landscape, cycling, and local architectural and cultural history. If you are looking for a hotel, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip: will you spend most of your time relaxing outdoors, cycling, or exploring historic buildings?

Forest Swimming Pool and Cycling

Bernsdorf Forest Swimming Pool is a natural swimming facility created from a former glass-sand pit. It is located within the Bernsdorf Pond Landscape protected area and offers opportunities for recreation and relaxation. The Frosch Cycle Route crosses the grounds of the swimming pool. This brings together a stay by the water and a cycling route; the former glass-sand pit is part of the swimming pool’s history.

Bernsdorf also has developed cycling paths that pass through forests and alongside numerous lakes. Bernsdorf is connected to the Lusatian Lake District. The region has cycling routes such as the Lake District Route and the Lower Lusatian Mining Tour, bathing lakes, water sports, museums, viewpoints and themed day trips ranging from 20 to 60 kilometres. The local cycling paths and the Lusatian Lake District offer different ways to explore the area, from cycling through forests and alongside lakes to choosing from a wide range of regional themes.

Park, Pond and Animal Enclosure

August Bebel Park is a recreational space in central Bernsdorf. A wet meadow and Schmelzteich pond adjoin it; Bernsdorf Animal Enclosure is located on Parkstraße within the park. Seating and a viewing platform have been installed by Schmelzteich pond. August Bebel Park was modernised along the Frosch Cycle Route. Lighting was installed along the Frosch Cycle Route beside the animal enclosure. Paths around the animal enclosure and Schmelzteich pond were upgraded with a Saxon-style gravel surface; the former arboretum trail in Bernsdorf was also upgraded. Another local leisure facility is the Bike & Chill pump track.

Local History and Buildings

The Zeißholz Village Museum is housed in one of the oldest surviving three-sided farmsteads in Upper Lusatia. The farmstead itself is as much a part of the setting as the museum. Bernsdorf Catholic Church has been the centre of the Catholic community since 1897. Its building also served as a schoolhouse during the last century. Bernsdorf Protestant Church, with its war memorial, is another noteworthy building. The museum and churches thus offer different points of connection to local history: the surviving three-sided farmstead, the Catholic church’s longstanding role and the war memorial at the Protestant church.

Cycling Routes in Bautzen District

Regional cycling routes in Bautzen District include the Bautzen Northern Tour. This 43.1-kilometre circular route runs from Bautzen via Quatitz, Großdubrau, Milkel, Klix and Malschwitz, and back to Bautzen. It passes through the heath and pond landscape and along the nature trail in Crosta. The Hill and Valley Route is a regional circular route through the West Lusatian Hills in Bautzen District. The Krabat Cycle Route is a regional circular route through the district, following in the footsteps of Krabat, the hero of Sorbian legend.

Other routes cover longer distances: the Central Route is a long-distance cycle route from Zittau to Aachen; one section passes through the Upper Lusatian Highlands in Bautzen District. The Spree Cycle Route runs from its source in Upper Lusatia to Berlin. Its section from Taubenheim to Zerre lies in Bautzen District. This means regional visitors can choose between a circular route with a specified distance and routes whose endpoints are far apart.

Discover more destinations: Bautzen, Steina, Bretnig-Hauswalde, Schönteichen, Oßling, Crostau, Spreetal, Panschwitz-Kuckau.

For the overview of the wider area: Bautzen District.