Lauchhammer Bio-Towers

The Lauchhammer bio-towers are a fascinating landmark with many faces. The towers are the remains of what was once a huge coking plant - the first of its kind in the world. They were only built in the 1950s for the biological purification of the process wastewater produced during coke production. The large coking plant was shut down in 1991 and demolished in 1994. In 2002, the bio-towers went out of operation. Saved from demolition and renovated, history and stories from the energy industry of Lower Lusatia are presented here. Lignite was processed into high-temperature coke, which could be used to smelt iron. Today, the unique ensemble with its striking aesthetics also serves as an exhibition venue and sometimes as an event location. Together with a guide from the Traditionsverein Lauchhammer, you can climb one of the towers and look out over the area of the former large coking plant from the glassed-in viewing platforms.

Tip: You can listen to an audio guide about the Lauchhammer bio-towers both on site and from home. It can be accessed on a smartphone with the free Hearonymus app. In six chapters, a contemporary witness explains how the coking plant was built and how it functioned.