Old Market
Altmarkt

The Altmarkt is the historic center of Cottbus, and the square has served as the city’s main marketplace since the Middle Ages. The square was laid out in the 12th century, shortly after the city grew as a trading center in Lower Lusatia. From the very beginning, the Altmarkt was the meeting point for farmers, merchants, and citizens, where food, textiles, and handicrafts were sold. Over time, the square also became the site of town festivals, parades, and public ceremonies.

Architecturally, the square is surrounded by beautiful townhouses, which were largely built after the devastating fires that ravaged the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of the houses are in the Baroque and Classicist style with colorful facades, stucco decorations, and gable constructions that create a picturesque whole. The symmetry and proportions of the square reflect the urban planning that characterizes many German trading cities in the early modern era. In the middle of the square is a fountain figure from the 20th century.

St. Nicholas Church
Oberkirche St. Nikolai

Oberkirche St. Nikolai is the largest and most important church in Cottbus. It was begun in the 15th century as a three-nave Gothic hall church. It was a church building that took decades to complete, reflecting the city’s growing prosperity through trade and craftsmanship. The church was dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of merchants and seafarers, which underlines Cottbus’s historical role as an important trading center in the Lusatian region.

Architecturally, the church is a masterpiece of North German Gothic. The tall pointed windows fill the space with light, and the ribbed vaults rest on slender columns, giving the interior an airy and majestic character. The striking west tower was completed in the Renaissance style in the 16th century, creating an interesting mix of styles. Inside, the church houses a Baroque altarpiece from the 18th century, a pulpit with richly carved details, as well as epitaphs and tombstones that testify to the city’s bourgeoisie.

After the Reformation, the Oberkirche was converted from a Catholic to an Evangelical Lutheran church, and it remained an important religious center through both wars and political changes. Today, the church is a protected cultural heritage site, used for both services and concerts. It is known for its excellent acoustics, making it a popular venue for classical music events.

Spremberg Street
Spremberger Straße

Spremberger Straße is the main shopping street in Cottbus, and it forms a lively connection between the Altmarkt and the Spremberger Turm. Already in the Middle Ages, the street was part of the old trade route through the city, where merchants and craftsmen had their stalls and workshops. In the 19th century, when the textile industry brought prosperity to Cottbus, the street was transformed into a boulevard with representative houses and shops.

Architecturally, the street appears as a mix of different eras. Many of the buildings date from the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, and in terms of style they represent both neoclassicism and art nouveau. In particular, the ornamentation of the facades, large windows and wrought iron balconies testify to the development of the city during this period. In recent times, modern shop buildings have been integrated, but the historical charm has been preserved through the restoration of the older houses.

Castle Church
Schloßkirche

The Schloßkirche in Cottbus was originally built as a monastery for Franciscan monks in the 13th century. After the Reformation, the monastery was dissolved and the church was converted into an Evangelical parish church. It survived both wars and city fires, but underwent several reconstructions in the Baroque and Classicist periods. Today, the Schloßkirche no longer functions as an active church, but as an exhibition space for art and culture, which gives the building a new role in the life of the city.

Architecturally, the Schloßkirche is a fascinating mix of Gothic and later additions. The church’s ground plan and its high nave are examples of its origins as a Gothic monastery church, while the window design and parts of the interior bear the marks of the changes of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The altar and pulpit are Baroque, and the church’s vaulted ceilings emphasize the original medieval construction. The exterior of the building appears relatively simple with brick walls, reminiscent of the typical monastic architecture of the region.

Today, the Schloßkirche houses a permanent exhibition on the history of Cottbus and is often used for temporary art exhibitions, concerts and lectures. The church thus functions as a cultural hub, where the religious architecture of the past forms a framework for today’s artistic expression.

Spremberg Tower
Spremberger Turm

The Spremberger Turm is one of Cottbus’s most striking landmarks and is a preserved part of the medieval city fortifications. The original tower was built in the 13th century as part of the city wall and served as one of the most important entrance gates to the city. However, its current appearance dates back to a reconstruction in the 19th century, when the tower was raised and equipped with a characteristic dome.

Architecturally, the Spremberger Turm is an example of a medieval defensive building adapted to the more representative functions of later times. The lower part of the tower stands with a massive brick wall with small bullet holes, emphasizing its original defensive function. The upper part, which was added in the 19th century, houses a viewing platform under the green copper dome. At 31 metres, the tower is the tallest historical building in Cottbus and an important landmark in the city’s skyline.

Cottbus State Theatre
Staatstheater Cottbus

The Staatstheater Cottbus is an architectural and cultural highlight in the Lusatia region. The theatre was built between 1905 and 1908 according to designs by architect Bernhard Sehring, also known for the Theater des Westens in Berlin. The theatre was created during a period when Cottbus was economically prosperous through the textile industry, and it represents the city’s ambitions to emerge as a cultural centre.

Architecturally, the Staatstheater was built in Art Nouveau style combined with Classicist elements. The façade is decorated with sculptures, columns and ornamentation that emphasise the representative function of the building. Inside, the theatre impresses with a sumptuous foyer, winding staircases and a theatre hall with space for around 600 spectators. The decorations are characterized by floral Art Nouveau motifs and artistic embellishments, creating an atmosphere of elegance and opulence.

Today, the Staatstheater hosts opera, ballet, theater and symphony concerts. It is one of the few surviving Art Nouveau theaters in Germany and is therefore listed as a cultural heritage site. With its broad repertoire, the theater attracts both local and international guests and functions as one of the most important cultural institutions of its kind in eastern Germany.

Diesel Power Plant
Dieselkraftwerk

The Dieselkraftwerk Cottbus is a unique example of industrial architecture from the early 20th century. It was built in 1927 as one of the first large diesel power plants in Germany and supplied Cottbus with electricity for decades. Over time, the power plant lost its technological significance, and in the 1990s the building was decommissioned.

Architecturally, the Dieselkraftwerk is characterized by functionalist industrial construction. The red brick walls, large windows and characteristic chimneys create a powerful industrial expression. The building was designed by Werner Issel, who was known for his works in modern industrial design, and the power plant stands today as an early example of how function and aesthetics could be combined in factory buildings.

Today, the Dieselkraftwerk functions as a museum for modern art under the name Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum für moderne Kunst. Changing exhibitions of contemporary art are presented here, and the old engine room is used as an exhibition and concert hall. This makes the building a unique place where industrial history and modern culture meet.

Branitz Castle
Schloß Branitz

Schloß Branitz was built in the mid-18th century and is particularly known as the residence of Hermann von Pückler-Muskau, the famous landscape architect who took over the castle in 1845. Pückler transformed the Baroque castle complex into one of the most striking examples of romantic garden art in Germany.

The building is an elegant late Baroque castle with a simple, symmetrical facade and classicist elements. Inside, the rooms are furnished in the 19th century style with salons, a library and reception rooms. The interior reflects Pückler’s cosmopolitan taste and his travels through Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The park surrounding Schloß Branitz is internationally famous. It was created as an English landscape garden with lakes, canals, exotic trees and romantic viewpoints. Particularly noteworthy are the two earthen pyramids in the park, one of which rises in the middle of a lake and serves as Pückler’s tomb. The facility is considered a masterpiece of European garden art.

University Library Cottbus (IKMZ)
Universitätsbibliothek Cottbus (IKMZ)

The Universitätsbibliothek Cottbus, officially called the Informations-, Kommunikations- und Medienzentrum (IKMZ), is one of the most striking modern buildings in Cottbus. It was built between 2001 and 2004 and designed by the world-renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron, who are also behind the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Architecturally, the IKMZ is an avant-garde building, consisting of a cylindrical structure covered with a semi-transparent glass and plastic facade, on which letters in different typography are printed. The building changes character depending on the lighting conditions, giving it an almost living expression. Inside, the library is organized as an open space on several floors with curved walls and a futuristic design that supports the digital and modern focus.

The library is part of the Brandenburgische Technische Universität (BTU) and serves as a knowledge and research center for students, researchers and citizens. It is not only a library, but also an architectural landmark for Cottbus, marking the city’s role as a university and innovation city in the 21st century.

Space Flight Planetarium Yuri Garagin
Raumflugplanetarium Juri Gagarin

Raumflugplanetarium Juri Gagarin is the name of the planetarium in Cottbus. It is dedicated to the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and was inaugurated in 1974 as a modern scientific and cultural center under the GDR. The place quickly became a central place for the dissemination of astronomy and space travel with a focus on both education and entertainment. The planetarium played an important role in bringing knowledge about the universe to the population of the entire region, and it also served as a symbol of the GDR’s technological ambitions in the age of space exploration.

The architecture of the building is characterized by its dome shape, which has a diameter of 12.5 meters. The dome is equipped with advanced projection technology, which can realistically reproduce the starry sky, create dynamic visual shows and give both children and adults an experience of the depth and beauty of the universe. The design of the building combines functionality with aesthetic elements, and the shape of the dome ensures that spectators can enjoy the astronomical presentations.

Wendish Quarter
Wendisches Viertel

The Wendisches Viertel was developed in the 1980s as an area that would preserve and highlight the Sorbian culture of Cottbus, while also serving as an example of GDR urban planning. The district was created to integrate traditional Sorbian housing into modern housing, thus becoming both a cultural and functional extension of the city. It quickly became known as an area where local traditions could be preserved and made visible through architecture and public spaces.

The architecture of the Wendisches Viertel combines the typical GDR buildings in the so-called Plattenbau with colorful and ornamented details inspired by Sorbian culture. Mosaics, decorative facades and symbols of Sorbian traditions create a special identity for the area, which distinguishes it from standardized apartment blocks in other parts of the city. The combination of functionalism and cultural-historical elements gives the district a unique visual and social significance that can still be experienced.

Today, the Wendisches Viertel functions as a vibrant urban area with both housing and cultural activities. The area hosts cultural events, festivals and exhibitions that highlight Sorbian history and traditions. At the same time, the district serves as a symbol of cultural diversity in Cottbus and shows how historical and ethnic values ​​can be preserved within modern urban development.

Brandenburg Pharmacy Museum
Brandenburgisches Apothekenmuseum

The Brandenburgisches Apothekenmuseum in Cottbus is one of the most important museums in Germany when it comes to the history of medicine and pharmacy. Founded in the early 1900s, the museum has since amassed an extensive collection of historical pharmacy tools, glassware, herbal samples and writings that document the development of medicine and the art of pharmacy over the centuries. The collection provides a unique insight into how pharmacies functioned, what ingredients were used and how pharmaceutical practice has changed over time, both in Brandenburg and throughout Germany.

The building that houses the museum has retained many of its historic architectural elements, including classical facades with ornaments, high windows and decorative cornices that reflect the original pharmacy style from the 19th century. Inside, the rooms are divided into historic pharmacies, where you can see original laboratories, mixing stations and shelves with herbal jars, giving visitors an authentic experience of a historic pharmacy atmosphere.

Cottbus Park Railway
Cottbuser Parkeisenbahn

The Cottbuser Parkeisenbahn, also known as the Pioniereisenbahn, was built in the GDR era in the 1950s as a children’s and youth railway, where young people could learn about railway operations and technology in a safe environment. The railway was established in Branitz Park as a miniature railway, giving children and families the opportunity to experience train travel on a scale that makes it safe and accessible for everyone. The original idea was both educational and recreational, and the railway quickly became a popular attraction in the city.

The architecture and construction of the railway is typical of GDR miniature railways, with small stations, signals, bridges and depot buildings that imitate a full-scale railway in miniature. The locomotives and carriages are built with precision and durability to ensure an authentic driving experience, while the scale allows children to operate parts of the operation under supervision. The route of the railway winds through the park’s green areas.

Today, the Cottbuser Parkeisenbahn serves as a popular family outing destination, where children and adults can take short train rides through Branitz Park while learning about railway technology, operation and safety. The line is still partly operated by young people in training, and many volunteers from the local community contribute to its maintenance and operation.