Gosda – Plinsdorf Villages, Mills and Observation Towers

Gosda, together with Weißag and Zwietow, lies in a valley shaped by the Calau Switzerland and surrounded by meadows and forests. The Calau Switzerland is part of the “Lower Lusatian Ridge” Nature Park. Marked trails, observation towers, mills and rural architecture give the village its distinctive character. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore tailor your stay to different interests: landscape experiences, traditional crafts or historical landmarks.

Plinsdorf Villages and Special Craftsmanship

Gosda, Weißag and Zwietow are also colloquially known as “Plinsdorf villages” or “mountain villages”. These Plinsdorf villages have preserved a particularly large number of fieldstone buildings. The owners have renovated the buildings in recent years, making the traditional construction style a defining feature of the villagescape.

André von Martens contributes an independent cultural facet. In the Plinsdorf village of Gosda, he creates artistic vessels using elaborate black-firing techniques, some of which are inspired by Slavic ceramics. He has received several awards for this work. Anyone wishing to discover regional craftsmanship and unusual design while on holiday will find a specific starting point here for planning their trip.

Marked Trails and Observation Towers

The Crane Tour leads through the Plinsdorf villages of Gosda and Zwietow. It is marked with a stylized crane on a yellow background. The Heedekorn Trail bears a yellow dot on a white background. These different markings help you distinguish the respective trails when planning and while en route, without suggesting that both offer the same experience.

For a lookout point with clear route information, the Luckaitztal Brick Tower is a destination in its own right. Its viewing platform is 38 metres above the forest floor, and 216 steps lead up to it. The shortest footpath starts at the picnic area near Weißag; marked trails also lead to the tower from Werchow and Luckaitztal railway station. Take this information into account if you want to plan your day around a particular starting point.

Mills Between History and the Present

The mills in the surrounding area tell different stories of rural use. The “Fuchsmühle” is located on the Starick family property, directly on the cycle path between the Plinsdorf villages of Zwietow and Weißag. The “Alte Mühle” is associated with the year 1403 and is still operational today as a buckwheat, grain and sawmill.

The former Zwietow post mill was built in 1860 and converted into a motor mill in 1937. It is currently used as a museum of rural everyday culture, featuring smallholder farming equipment and household items. It is located on the main road between Gosda and Zwietow in the Calau Switzerland; visits and guided tours are possible by prior arrangement. Gaumer’s Inn is located at Dorfstraße 4, 03229 Luckaitztal, OT Gosda-Weißag.

Panoramic Views Across Lusatia

The Calau Switzerland Observation Tower also makes its own distinctive contribution. It consists of 93,850 clinker bricks from the nearby Buchwäldchen brickworks operated by Wienerberger GmbH. In clear weather, the view extends as far as Calau Town Church, Cottbus, Jänschwalde Power Station, the F 60 visitor mine near Lichterfeld and the Lusatian uplands.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would also like to compare other destinations, you can find Schipkau, Altdöbern, Schwarzbach, Großkmehlen, Laasow, Hohenbocka, Senftenberg and Vetschau/Spreewald here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Oberspreewald-Lausitz.