The best cycling routes around Niedere Börde

The development of water transport technology becomes clear during a visit to the historic Rothensee ship lift. In 1938, the ship lift was put into operation. Leipzig designers opted at the time for a principle that had not yet been practically applied anywhere for a structure of this magnitude: A lift whose trough rested on two movable floats. With the help of the water-filled trough, which together with the two floats and the support structures has a total weight of around 5,400 tons, ships could thus "descend" from the Mittellandkanal and towards the Elbe. Depending on the water level of the Elbe, a gradient between 11 and 18 meters is compensated. With a trough length of 85 meters, a width of 12 meters, and a water depth in the trough of 2.5 meters, the dimensions are, however, too small for today's large motor cargo ships. For this reason, the ship lift was decommissioned in 2006. Since then, the state capital Magdeburg, supported by various stakeholders and with broad public approval, has been committed to its seasonal continued operation. With success: Since the summer of 2013, the ship lift has been seasonally operated again for tourist purposes. The ship lift in Magdeburg-Rothensee is a unique monument due to its technology and history. It is a brilliant design, its construction was an engineering masterpiece. It is the second oldest of only four ship lifts still in operation in Germany and the only two-float ship lift in Germany still in operation. A visit is worthwhile for this reason alone, as the immediate proximity of the state-of-the-art Sparschleuse to the ship lift, as a historical technical monument, makes the developments in water transport technology visible. Data and facts: Usable length: 85 meters Usable width: 12 meters Lift height: 10.45 to 18.46 meters depending on the Elbe water level Water depth in the trough: 2.58 meters Usable size: 82 meters x 9.5 meters x 2 meters Total moving weight: 5,400 tons https://www.magdeburg-tourist.de/Tourismus-Freizeit/System/Schiffshebewerk/

In 1882, a brick factory was founded in Hundisburg, which produced bricks until 1990. After its closure, a support association was founded in 1991, which transformed the former factory and the grounds into a technical monument. Today, the Technical Monument offers a unique insight into the history of brick production for Germany. In the former clay pit, a wetland biotope was created, and in the drying barn of the facility, a ceramics workshop that finds versatile appreciation from schools and artists. Many visitors are attracted by the annual Brickmakers' Festival, which takes place in May as part of the International Museum Day. Guided tours, rides on the narrow-gauge railway, and creative work with clay in the coarse ceramics workshop are not only well and gladly utilized on this day. Furthermore, the support association integrates the brick factory into the cultural scene in Hundisburg with its own regular concert events. The annual jazz concert as part of the SommerMusikAkademie at Hundisburg Castle has become an event of supra-regional importance. Scientific conferences and seminars make Hundisburg known throughout Germany. Admission: Adults: €3.00 Children (5 to 14 years): €1.50 https://www.haldensleben.de/Kultur-Tourismus/Tourismus/Sehensw%C3%BCrdigkeiten/

Small resting place for a drink break

On the Gräberweg east of the 'Küchentannen' grave, you can find further mostly destroyed graves: a Stone Age cemetery with 'row graves'

Magnificent gate, which has been well restored again

Beautiful perspectives and great route

Beautiful gravel path along the canal. Suitable for gravel and mountain bikes; road bikes should take the paved sections below.

Unfortunately closed on Sundays.