Discover Röderland: Saathain and the Rafting Canal

A good starting point for getting to know Röderland is Saathain. The village lies west of Elsterwerda at the confluence of the Black Elster and the Große Röder. Here, river landscapes and culture meet: the area around Saathain is characterised by floodplain forests, while the estate complex hosts exhibitions and cultural events. The Grödel–Elsterwerda Rafting Canal, which runs through Röderland, also offers a distinct focus for planning your trip.

Culture at the Saathain Estate Complex

Exhibitions are held in the newly refurbished rooms of the redesigned Saathain estate complex. Cultural events take place in the former stables.

The estate complex thus brings together a historic setting and contemporary cultural use. This gives your itinerary a different focus from the activities along the rafting canal: in Saathain, exhibitions and events take centre stage, while the canal is mainly associated with tours and fishing.

The Rafting Canal and Floodplain Landscape

The Grödel–Elsterwerda Rafting Canal is now used for cycling and hiking tours and is considered a paradise for anglers. These activities appeal to different interests: you can plan around getting active on a cycling or hiking tour, or focus on fishing. The canal runs through Röderland.

In the area around Saathain, floodplain forests along the Black Elster, the Röder and the Röder Canal shape the landscape. Before looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider whether you want your trip to focus more on nature and tours or on culture.

More experiences in the wider Elbe-Elster travel destination

The wider Elbe-Elster travel destination offers additional themes. The F60 visitor mine is in Elbe-Elster district, south of Lichterfeld. Visitors to the mine can explore the nearby Bergheider See by bicycle, by Segway or on a walk along the long beach. Alongside the mine, there are several ways to experience the landscape around the lake.

Industrial heritage is also part of Elbe-Elster: the Louise briquette factory in Domsdorf is Europe’s oldest surviving briquette factory. Visitors can experience functioning historic machinery and discover steam engines there. The Plessa power station is one of Europe’s oldest lignite-fired power stations and has retained its original building fabric. Visitors can see authentic power station machinery from the 1920s there. The guided “Path of Coal” tour leads through the outdoor bunker, boiler house, turbine hall, control room and transformer area.

For a different cultural focus, the Mühlberg 1547 Museum explores the meeting of the armies in 1547, which shaped the course of the Reformation; the museum bears the European Heritage Label. Since January 2015, four significant museums in Elbe-Elster district have formed a joint museum network. Nature lovers can identify birdsong, find rare plants and observe animals on outings with a ranger from the Elbe-Elster-Land Nature Watch. Dates may vary, so check the latest information if you are planning such an outing.

Choose a holiday apartment based on your destinations

When looking for a holiday apartment in Röderland, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip. Saathain, the floodplain forests and the rafting canal offer themes of nature, activity and culture in the local area. If you are also planning to visit destinations in the wider Elbe-Elster travel region, include their specific locations in your selection.

Discover more destinations: Haida, Massen-Niederlausitz, Sonnewalde, Wahrenbrück, Mühlberg, Plessa, Finsterwalde, Bad Liebenwerda.

Go to the wider travel overview: Elbe-Elster.