Geierswalde is one of the most beautiful villages in the Lusatian Lake District.
It is part of the municipality of Elsterheide, a community of nine villages with Sorbian roots that was formed in 1995. The administrative centre is Bergen near Hoyerswerda.
The village with a population of about 340 extends on the southern shore of Geierswalder See, one of the region’s most popular bathing and water sports lakes. Tourism is an important economic mainstay in this former heathland village.
About 83 million metric tons of coal were mined in the former opencast mine from 1955 to 1972. The village of Scado and the Wettigmühle settlement belonging to Kleinkoschen had to be demolished to make way for the mine and now are commemorated by memorials.
Systematic flooding commenced in 2004. The lake now has a water surface of nearly 2.5 square miles (6.4 km2) and boasts an excellent water quality.
The eponymous village was first documented in 1401. It is characterised by numerous three- and four-sided farms. The ribbon-built village features at its heart L-shaped as well as three- and four-sided farms, partly in close proximity and usually built of bricks with one storey, on village greens along the main road.
A landmark is the church with its leaning steeple, built in 1634. The steeple’s tilt is the result of the decline and renewed increase of the groundwater level in the neighbouring opencast mine.
By late 1988 the tower had crumbled to a remaining height of 23 feet (7 m); volunteers subsequently preserved this building by securing it by the middle of 1989 and installing a massive anchor.