The best traffic-free bike rides around Köthen (Anhalt)

Is no longer a church

Beautiful view of the Petersberg

Evangelical Lutheran Church The church belongs to the Gröbzig parish in the Köthen church district of the Evangelical Church of Anhalt. Since the old village church, like most of the village of Edderitz, had to make way for lignite mining, the foundation stone for the present church was laid in 1953,[11] which was consecrated in 1955.[12] Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edderitz

In 1958, after more than 100 years, open-cast mining operations at the site were discontinued because the deposits were exhausted. The remaining pit was gradually filled with water.[2] By 1967, the Edderitzer Lake, over 40 hectares in size and up to 41 meters deep, had formed from inflowing groundwater. It initially served primarily as a water reservoir for agriculture, but has also developed into a popular bathing lake.[4] It differs from traditional quarry lakes in its rather unplanned formation. After wild bathing areas had developed along various shores, problems with the embankment became apparent after 1989, presumably caused by the rising water level following the declining water extraction between 1990 and 1992, so large sections of the shore were closed off. From 1998 to 2003, the slopes were secured and a beach restaurant was created in the western area, while the former beaches on the eastern side remained closed.[4] For the reopening on May 15, a "House and Bathing Regulations of the Edderitz Seaside Resort" was published in the official gazette.[5] The lake has good water quality.[6] On the west side of the lake, there is a lido with a 400-meter-long sandy beach, volleyball courts, and a campsite. The lake is used for various water sports such as fishing and diving. A paved circular path surrounds the lake, which is used for hiking, cycling, skating, and summer and winter biathlon. There is also a geological educational garden with over 120 rocks on display and remnants of the open-cast mining history (lorry, water wheel).[7] In 2005, a life-sized "art cow" painted with fins and scales was sunk by the local diving club in Lake Edderitz and anchored at a depth of 25 meters.[8] Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edderitzer_See

The village of Edderitz is said to have received its name from the Slavic word jezerisco, as it was first mentioned as Ezeri in 973. There are and have been several ponds in the village, and several pit ponds near the village, but Lake Edderitz is by far the largest body of still water in the former municipality.[1] In the 19th century, the importance of coal mining increased significantly, and the Leopold mine was established in 1853. In 1935, it was decided to relocate a large part of the village to the north so that coal could be mined there as well. The new village was gradually built north of the Pfaffendorf-Edderitz road starting in 1938. A total of around 1,200 residents were resettled by 1952. In 1953, the sugar factory, which was located in the northwest of the old village, was demolished so that coal could be mined there as well. All that remained of the old village was the cemetery; the rest was dredged over. [Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edderitzer_See

Lake Edderitz is located in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district, south of Köthen in the town of Southern Anhalt. It originated from the former Edderitz open-cast mine and is therefore also known as the "open-cast mine pit near Edderitz." Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edderitzer_See

Definitely a highlight

Goes off for Saxony-Anhalt but worth it