Pließnitz

From the gentle slopes of the Kottmar mountain, a story begins. It’s the story of the Pließnitz, a seemingly modest river that has shaped the landscape and lives around Görlitz for centuries. The Pließnitz isn’t just a river; it’s a vital thread in the tapestry of this region. Stand here, on its banks, and let its story unfold. The Pließnitz is born from the union of two smaller waterways, the Petersbach and the Berthelsdorfer Wasser, near Rennersdorf. From this point, it embarks on a 20-kilometer journey, meandering through the Eigenschen Kreis before ultimately joining the Lausitzer Neiße. Through the Neiße, its waters eventually reach the Oder and finally flow into the Baltic Sea. The Pließnitz has witnessed dramatic events, its normally tranquil waters transforming into a raging torrent during periods of heavy rainfall. One such event, the flood of June 14, 1880, is etched in the memory of the region. Imagine the normally placid Pließnitz swelling to six meters in just fifteen minutes in some areas! The floodwaters left a trail of destruction. Houses, barns, and bridges were swept away, leaving families homeless and claiming lives along the Pließnitz’s path. The 1880 flood served as a stark reminder of the river’s power and the need for better flood control measures. Years later, the Rennersdorf flood retention basin was constructed on the Petersbach, one of the Pließnitz’s tributaries. This was a crucial step in taming the river’s sometimes destructive nature and protecting the communities that have grown along its banks. The Pließnitz isn’t just a force of nature; it’s a resource. Its waters have been used for practical purposes, playing a key role in filling Lake Berzdorf, a former open-pit lignite mine transformed into a beautiful lake. The Pließnitz has a story to tell, a story woven into the very fabric of Görlitz. As you continue your journey, let the memory of this unassuming yet powerful river stay with you. It’s a testament to the forces that shape our world and the resilience of the communities that call this region home.