Roßlau combines church and architectural history with Elbe navigation and a landscape of floodplains and woodland. St. Mary’s Church, the water castle and two museums offer different historical perspectives; the southern Elbe floodplains and eastern woodland areas add another dimension. This lets you take both culture and landscape into account when choosing your destination.
Elbe, floodplains and woodland
Roßlau lies on the right bank of the Elbe. Elbe floodplains extend south of the town, while extensive woodland areas lie to the east. These geographical features give the landscape a clear structure: the river and floodplains form one focal point, and the woodland another. Together with the historic sites, they offer a variety of themes for a stay, without reducing Roßlau to a single attraction.
Church and water castle: different periods in history
The Protestant St. Mary’s Church was first mentioned in 1316. Its baptismal bell is approximately 1,000 years old and is considered the oldest bell in Anhalt. The two dates refer to different things: 1316 is the church’s first recorded mention, while the approximate age refers to the bell.
The construction history of Roßlau Water Castle dates back to the 12th century: its oldest parts are from this period. The castle was built on the remains of a Slavic settlement fortification; its buildings and grounds are protected as historic monuments. It therefore combines a long architectural history with the site of an earlier settlement. When getting your bearings among Roßlau’s historic highlights, the church and castle differ both in their histories and in what they tell you about the town.
Local history and Elbe navigation at the museum
The protected historic oil mill was formerly used as a textile mill, fulling mill and oil mill; its origins date back to 1533. Today it houses the Heimatstube Museum. Exhibits include Roßlau porcelain, objects from everyday town life, old newspapers and views of the town. The focus here is on local history, everyday objects and town scenes.
The Shipbuilding and Navigation Museum offers a different perspective. It covers more than 300 square metres and explores the history of Elbe navigation and local shipbuilding. Ship models, drawings, photographs and hands-on displays illustrate these subjects. A Dietze paddle wheel is on display at Luchplatz. Visitors particularly interested in navigation and shipbuilding will find a clear contrast here to the everyday and local stories at the Heimatstube.
Plan events and excursions
The water castle is a destination for excursions and a venue for music festivals, theatre performances, and Christmas and Easter markets. It also serves as a starting point for excursions into the Oberluch landscape of the Roßlau Elbe floodplains. Roßlau’s annual event highlights include the SKA Festival, the Burgsommertheater and the Heimat- und Schifferfest. If you would like to plan your trip around a particular event, check the dates and programmes in advance.
Getting here and finding your way around
Federal highways B184 and B187, as well as state road L120, pass through Roßlau. There is also a bus route and a rail connection between Dessau and Roßlau. For your specific travel plans, check the timetables for your travel dates. This will help you coordinate the travel arrangements with the focus you choose for Roßlau: historic sites and museums, events or the Elbe landscape.
Discover more destinations: Dessau-Roßlau, Kochstedt, Mildensee.
Back to the main travel guide: Dessau-Roßlau.
