Oberlausitz: UNESCO biosphere reserve Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape

UNESCO biosphere reserve Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape
Much more than otters, sea eagles and lots of fish
OHTL ©

Untouched flora and fauna on more than 30,000 hectares

House of 1000 ponds

The tradition of pond farming in today's UNESCO protected area is centuries old - the multimedia exhibition in the House of a Thousand Ponds tells you what it still means today, which rare animals and plants are at home in the ponds, meadows and forests and what opportunities there are to discover them. Marked trails around the information center of the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape Biosphere Reserve in Wartha also invite visitors to explore everything for themselves.

to the website House of a Thousand Ponds

Abbildung Fishing Rietschen — Fishing Rietschen

Fish on the table

With over 1,000 ponds, Upper Lusatia is one of the largest inland fishing regions in Germany. The fishing tradition has been practiced here since the 13th century. Since 2021, "Lusatian fish" has also been established as a brand - and is celebrated every year from the end of September to the beginning of November at the Lusatian Fish Weeks with delicious carp, zander, pike, catfish and sturgeon.

to the Lusatian fish website

One tour, two cycle paths, endless impressions

Rustic half-timbered houses, rustling pine forests, idyllic floodplains, impressive world heritage sites: if you cycle along the twin cycle paths, you will experience Lusatia in all its glory. The twins are the Oder-Neisse and Spree cycle paths. They lead downstream to Brandenburg. And they have two friends with whom they join forces to form a circular tour: the Froschradweg in the north and the Mittellandroute in the south.

to the twin cycle path

Get to know rare animals and plants in Upper Lusatia

The carnivorous small water hose is just as much at home here as the endangered bog violet, the rare fire-bellied toad and the majestic white-tailed eagle: the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape Biosphere Reserve is the largest contiguous pond area in Central Europe and home to over 5,000 plant and animal species. Human activity has influenced the area for centuries - especially pond farming, which has its roots in the 13th century. Today, the UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve is characterized by a harmonious and sustainable coexistence of man and nature. The ponds, which are a maximum of one meter deep and up to 90 hectares in size, are still mainly used for carp farming. In the fall, the ponds remain without water unless they are intended for the overwintering of younger fish or must remain filled for species protection reasons.

Abbildung Lorenz Richter — Lorenz Richter

Ambassador of Lusatia

What many children dream of: roaming through nature, observing animals and discovering rare plants - he has turned his childhood dream into a profession. Lorenz Richter has been a ranger in the UNESCO Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape Biosphere Reserve since 2015.

Read the full article about Lorenz Richter here

Become a tour guide in Upper Lusatia!

In the video: Tour guide in the Upper Lusatian heath and pond landscape

Further information on the Young Tour Guides in Upper Lusatia can be found here

Impressions from the UNESCO Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape Biosphere Reserve

Abbildung Image pond landscape — Image pond landscape

Abbildung Image photos OHTL — Image photos OHTL

Abbildung Frog in the pond — Frog in the pond

Großes Erbe Faltkarte

Wie kaum eine andere Region Deutschlands steht die Lausitz für gewaltige Gegensätze auf engstem Raum. Gegensätze als Ergebnis eines ständigen Wandels. So prägen noch immer Wunden die Landschaft der Lausitz, allerdings im Kontrast zur Lieblichkeit der englischen Gartenkunst historischer Parkanlagen. Und die Landschaft heilt nach und nach.

Aus Bräuchen und Gegensätzen wird hier Welterbe geschaffen. Von der UNESCO ausgezeichnete Kultur- und Naturerbestätten, Kulturlandschaften, vom Tagebau geprägte Gegenden oder Städte wie Görlitz und Bautzen sind Leuchttürme der Region. Sie erzählen Geschichten, die teils Jahrhunderte überspannen. All das nennen wir unser großes Erbe, welchem wir uns verpflichtet fühlen.