Canoeing in the Spreewald: an experience!
Book a traditional Spreewald canoe tour with Spreewald pickles or coffee and let yourself be poled from village to village. Canoeing through the extensive network of streams is one of the most popular activities for visitors to the Spreewald. Let your canoe guide take you past picturesque Spreewald villages, peaceful meadows, and imposing forests. You will learn interesting things about sights, traditions, and customs on the canoe trip and be treated to Spreewald pickles and bread.
Spreewald canoe season
High season (April 1st-October 31st)
Low season (November 1st-March 31st)
The high season for canoeing is from April to October. During this time, the canoes depart on the hour. You should plan to spend approximately 2 to 3 hours on a canoe trip, and special theme canoe trips can take longer. The winter timetable applies from November to March. During this time, selected ports and boat houses offer winter canoe trips or mulled wine canoe trips. Equipped with wool blankets and mulled wine, you will be on the water for about 1 hour. In particularly cold winters, when the rivers are frozen, the canoes are replaced by sleds and ice skaters.
Shrovetide and Zamper Culture
When the dark nights slowly become shorter again, one of the region's best-known spring customs begins: Shrovetide (Zapust). Moving from house to house, with noise, music and masquerades, "Zampern" (Sorbian: camprowanje, "to demand" or "to hiss") is about driving away winter and its evil demons and spirits. Traditionally dressed in festive traditional costumes or modern colourful costumes, couples - young and old - parade through the village or town to shake a leg and twirl colourful ribbons at the big Shrovetide dance.
Culinary winter pleasure
Did you know that the beginning of the year in the Spreewald holds many delicious regional delicacies? For example, baking traditional Klemmkuchen by the cosy fire in the Kopol oven in Peitz is a highlight for the whole family. And you absolutely have to try the traditional Cottbus Baumkuchen.
Experience customs and stories
What does leisure time mean in the Spreewald countryside? What is the pagan love spell of the Sorbs/Wends? What is behind the bird wedding? What is it like to ride on a traditional Spreewald push sledge? Take part in convivial evenings, exciting guided tours or fun history lessons to learn more about the life, legends and customs of the Spreewald. Sip Feuerzangenbowle or nibble on typical Muckefuck in a rustic atmosphere.
Sorbian Spinte Tradition
In the winter months, from October to March, unmarried girls worked on their trousseau according to Sorbian tradition. Flax and sheep's wool were spun, stories were told, laughter and singing took place. Even today, women get together and spend fun spinning afternoons together to shorten the cold winter days and show you their tricks of the trade. Listen to exciting stories, watch the fascinating technology and maybe even get involved in a spin yourself.
Winter craftsmanship
Many people still know lead casting from earlier New Year's Eve evenings, even if the result was usually a matter of interpretation. However, few people know that the craft of aluminium casting is a real winter tradition in the Spreewald! See how your personal lucky charm is created during aluminium show casting or ensure your own decorative luck during creative basket weaving. Learn basic handicraft techniques in dealing with the natural material willow and be amazed at how, with a little patience, a few sticks can be turned into a flower basket or a holder for the garden torch.
