Forst (Lausitz): Roses, Cycling and Industrial Heritage

Forst (Lausitz) brings together a historic rose garden, waterways and traces of its industrial history. Garden art, cycling, paddling and nature experiences offer different starting points for planning a trip. Which of these themes matters most to you can also shape your search for a suitable holiday apartment in Forst.

Rose Garden and Landscape

The East German Rose Garden in Forst (Lausitz) covers 17 hectares. Tens of thousands of rose bushes grow there, representing almost 1,000 varieties. As a historic park, it combines garden art, botanical diversity and landscape architecture. Anyone interested in plant collections and landscaped parks will find a special focus of the town here. The garden’s size and variety also provide a concrete theme for planning your holiday.

Nearby, northwest of Forst, lies the Euloer Bruch, a lowland landscape covering around 83 hectares. It is a refuge for many rare and endangered plant and animal species. Hiking offers an opportunity to discover nature there. Alongside landscaped parks, this offers a different kind of nature experience: the Euloer Bruch as a landscape and habitat.

Cycling, Paddling and Sport

Near Forst, the Oder–Neisse Cycle Route follows the crest of the dike along the Lusatian Neisse. The Mühlgraben offers another way to get out on the water. This artificially created town canal runs through Forst and is open to paddlers; numerous access and exit points are marked. The activities differ not only in their surroundings but also in what they involve: cycling along the river or paddling on the town canal.

Cycling also has its own focal point in Forst. The Forst Cycling and Equestrian Stadium has a 400-metre cement oval, where national and international cycling competitions are held today, as in the past. The cycle route is for riding the trail, while the stadium is for organised competitive sport—two different perspectives on the same theme.

Industrial History in the Town

The Industrial Heritage Trail is a permanent open-air exhibition with information panels at historically significant industrial sites around the town. The guided “Tour de Forst” follows the town’s educational trail on industrial heritage and brings the history of the former cloth-making town to life at selected locations. The Forst Museum of Lusatian Textile and Industrial History also focuses on the textile and industrial history of Lusatia.

Regular guided tour dates are available in Forst. Families, groups and clubs can request a preferred date. The town can be explored on foot or by bike, as well as in the East German Rose Garden or the Forst Museum. If you are planning a guided tour, check the current dates and request a preferred date for a private tour.

Spree-Neisse as a Wider Region

The wider Spree-Neisse destination offers additional themes. The Spree Cycle Route crosses the region for around 60 kilometres, mostly along paved river dikes. The Lower Lusatian Mining Tour runs past active lignite open-cast mines and through recultivated landscapes. The Sorbian Impressions Tour offers insights into the life and traditions of the Sorbian/Wendish minority living in the region. These regional routes have their own distinct focuses and broaden the picture beyond the themes found within the town of Forst.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide on the focus of your trip: would you like to get to know Forst mainly through garden art and industrial history, or are cycling, paddling and nature your priorities? Make your choice according to which of these interests you want to shape your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Hornow-Wadelsdorf, Felixsee, Turnow-Preilack, Neuhausen/Spree, Peitz, Heinersbrück, Welzow, Jänschwalde.

To the overview of the wider destination: Spree-Neisse.