The university town on the River Spree near the Polish border is a little pearl, properly known by only a few.
Cottbus, the Brandenburg university town close to the Polish border, once made its name as regional centre for the textile industry. Today the city serves as an important railway hub, a fitting fact, as the city can trace its importance back to its proximity to the early trade routes between Silesia and central Germany, and from Dresden to Frankfurt.
The city centre is known for its colourful facades and picturesque streets. On your travels you should definitely take a stroll through the Old Town to see the area's landmarks, such as the Spremberger Turm (Spremberg Tower). The Spremberger Turm was built in the 13th century and was once part of the city walls. Today it is still found on the city's coat of arms.
Take a trip to the Schillerplatz, found to the west of the city centre. This used to serve as a cattle market, but today you can enjoy the Jugendstil architecture of the surrounding buildings, particularly the Cottbus State Theatre, built by the Berlin architect, Bernhard Sehring. The theatre offers all types of performances and events, and, above all, has a reputation for socially and politically relevant plays.
Those who are interested in Cottbus's history, and the culture of the Sorbian minority connected to it, should visit the Wendische Museum and the Lodka-Kulturzentrum.
The wide green plains outside of the city gates are one of the region's main attractions. There is a whole range of parks around the city which are perfect for a stroll, such as the Spreeauenpark, the city's Zoo and, of course, the famous Branitzer Park, created by Prince Hermann of Pückler-Muskau. In the landscaped garden made in imitation of the traditional English style, you will find a snake-shaped lake which forms the centre point of a number of waterways, such as the so-called Henriette-Sonntag-Kiosk and several ponds.
Yet more tourist attractions await the visitor outside of the city centre. Fifteen kilometres from Cottbus, for example, is the Spreewald, a biosphere reserve protected by UNESCO since 1991. Many small waterways and old farmhouses make the wood a popular destination for anyone who wants to spend a truly relaxing day.
