Floss Canal Route - The connection between Elbe and Schwarze Elster

The Floss Canal Route begins at the Elbe Cycle Path between Nünchritz and Riesa and follows the former Floss Canal, which was inaugurated in 1748. It connects the Elbe and the Schwarze Elster.

Right from the start, the route runs through green canal landscapes that preserve the nature of the region. In many sections, the path is unpaved, often very natural and only paved in some areas.

The route passes through Glaubitz, where a detour to the forest pool offers a refreshing cooling opportunity. Further along the canal lies Koselitz with its beautiful village church. There is also a pond area here, which is home to various water birds and plants. 

Tiefenau welcomes cyclists with a castle and castle chapel, which houses a famous Silbermann organ. Right next to it is the picturesque rose garden including café (currently only open Sundays and holidays from 2 pm to 5 pm).

Along the route, numerous relics of the old rafting tradition can be discovered: natural stone bridges and historic locks tell of the importance of the canal, which was formerly used for timber transport. Flora and fauna along the path are diverse, and if you are lucky, you can observe beavers, herons, and other water birds up close.

Before the end of the route, the path crosses from Saxony into Brandenburg. The paths continue towards Elsterwerda and offer a ride past a historic lock and a replica of a cargo barge. An authentic reconstruction of the Prösener lock house is another highlight along the route and recalls the importance of the canal economy in past times. The lock keeper, whose task was to operate the lock to manage the height difference of the waterways, lived here. Today, the house hosts an exhibition about the Floss Canal.

Finally, the Floss Canal Route reaches its endpoint in Elsterwerda, where the direct waterway between the Elbe and the Schwarze Elster ends. Here awaits a remarkable castle with castle park as well as a remarkable and listed historic town center.