The green belt in the northwest of the city of Leipzig
The Auenwald
The Leipzig Riverside Forest (*Leipziger Auenwald*) surrounds the idyllic Domholzschänke inn. Situated largely within Leipzig’s city limits, this floodplain forest stretches like a green ribbon from Markkleeberg to the area beyond Schkeuditz, running right through the heart of Leipzig. It shapes the landscape significantly and is traversed by well-known rivers such as the Pleiße, White Elster, and Luppe. Following the course of these rivers, the forest extends over 30 kilometers in length and up to five kilometers in width, covering an area of well over 2,500 hectares; it ranks among the largest surviving floodplain forests in Central Europe.
The forest’s flora boasts a diversity rarely found elsewhere in or around Germany. The composition of the tree population has changed substantially over the last century. Black poplars and elms are now rarely encountered, and the proportion of pedunculate oaks—which make up the majority of the older stands—is steadily declining. In contrast, younger stands of maple and ash have increased significantly. Alongside various wild fruit species, the forest is home to typical trees such as bird cherry, linden, and black alder. Non-native tree species—such as black locust, European beech, red oak, and horse chestnut—can also be found here.
In spring, the Leipzig Riverside Forest is a feast for the eyes, offering a magnificent display of color. A vast array of spring-blooming plants thrives here, including cowslips and lesser celandine, as well as the relatively rare spring snowflake (*Märzenbecher*); notably, this forest is home to the largest population of the latter in all of Germany. A true rarity, however, is the Leipzig anemone (*Anemone lipsiensis*), a plant found nowhere else in the world; it appears in a pale yellow hue and is the result of natural hybridization between the wood anemone and the yellow wood anemone. The diverse array of trees and shrubs is the reason for the floodplain forest's abundant birdlife. A multitude of bird species and breeding pairs thrive here, consistently expanding their populations amidst these ideal conditions. The golden oriole and the middle spotted woodpecker are particularly common sights. The area also provides a habitat for a rich variety of insects; furthermore, the presence of beetle species threatened with extinction has been documented.
A visit to the Leipzig floodplain forest is well worth it, allowing you to fully enjoy its flora and fauna—whether you choose to go before or after a visit to our historic Domholzschänke inn.
The forest’s flora boasts a diversity rarely found elsewhere in or around Germany. The composition of the tree population has changed substantially over the last century. Black poplars and elms are now rarely encountered, and the proportion of pedunculate oaks—which make up the majority of the older stands—is steadily declining. In contrast, younger stands of maple and ash have increased significantly. Alongside various wild fruit species, the forest is home to typical trees such as bird cherry, linden, and black alder. Non-native tree species—such as black locust, European beech, red oak, and horse chestnut—can also be found here.
In spring, the Leipzig Riverside Forest is a feast for the eyes, offering a magnificent display of color. A vast array of spring-blooming plants thrives here, including cowslips and lesser celandine, as well as the relatively rare spring snowflake (*Märzenbecher*); notably, this forest is home to the largest population of the latter in all of Germany. A true rarity, however, is the Leipzig anemone (*Anemone lipsiensis*), a plant found nowhere else in the world; it appears in a pale yellow hue and is the result of natural hybridization between the wood anemone and the yellow wood anemone. The diverse array of trees and shrubs is the reason for the floodplain forest's abundant birdlife. A multitude of bird species and breeding pairs thrive here, consistently expanding their populations amidst these ideal conditions. The golden oriole and the middle spotted woodpecker are particularly common sights. The area also provides a habitat for a rich variety of insects; furthermore, the presence of beetle species threatened with extinction has been documented.
A visit to the Leipzig floodplain forest is well worth it, allowing you to fully enjoy its flora and fauna—whether you choose to go before or after a visit to our historic Domholzschänke inn.