Markkleeberg is just south of Leipzig, bordered by woods, lakes and the Pleiße River. Lake Cospuden and its neighboring parkland are immediately to the west.
Here you will encounter beaches for sunning and swimming, scenic cruises, wind surfing, kite sailing, hiking, biking and magnificent sunsets. You will also find sand dunes and a replica of an Egyptian pyramid near the harbor.
Head southeast of town and you will come to Markkleeberg Lake, a manmade body of fresh water formed by flooding the former Espenhain lignite mine. Activities here include swimming, sunbathing, hiking, cycling, skating, train rides in the garden known as Modellbauoark Auenhain, and cruising on a solar-powered ferry.
The area’s top-rated water attraction, however, is the Canoe Park at Markkleeberg Lake. Its whitewater training facility is considered Germany’s finest, with slalom courses for experts as well as starter courses for beginners.
You can camp nearby, rent one of 32 designated cottages. Or park at one of eight caravan sites at Seepark Auenhain on the north shore of the lake.
Water sports can be exhausting, so when it comes time to rest your body, your eyes will have will have plenty observe. For sightseeing, there are old villas and country homes indicative of leisure and wealth, with a rich variety of contrasting motifs.
The neo-baroque Westfälsches Haus built in 1926 is representative of the architectural opulence you will see. The same is true of the majestic White House of 1897, containing an eye-opening hall of mirrors.
Also check out the Castle Zöbigker, an 18th-century manor house with its beautiful landscaping and pond, and the neoclassical Raschwitz Mansion, with a history extending to 1889, now converted for multi-residence and surrounded by exquisite parks.
A wide variety of churches can also be observed here, from Martin Luther Church with its Saxon baroque style to the simplicity of tiny Auen Church, or the intensely modern interior of the Church of Großstädteln. Eclectic is a word that often comes to mind when describing Markkleeberg architecture.
