Abfischfest Inselteich Radibor — Lausitzer Fischwochen

Fish Harvesting — A Sorbian Tradition

Fish harvesting (Abfischen) is a centuries-old tradition in Upper Lusatia: during the cooler season, water is drained from the ponds, and the stock of edible fish (carp, trout, pike) is retrieved with nets — a labor-intensive method that has been kept alive for centuries in the Sorbian-influenced Upper Lusatia. The Lausitzer Fischwochen (late September to early November) are a regional tourism focus, during which several Upper Lusatian fish farms celebrate their fish harvesting days. The Inselteich Radibor — home of the Inselteichgemeinschaft Radibor e.V. since 1974 — is one of the most traditional venues for these festival weeks.

Fresh and Smoked Fish Directly from the Pond

On October 3, 2026, the Inselteich will be harvested — visitors can witness the process live: pond managers pull the nets, sort the caught fish by species and size, and prepare them for sale. Those interested can buy fresh fish directly on-site (carp, trout, pike) — either raw or already gutted. A separate smoking service with fresh smoked fish complements the culinary offerings. Additionally, fried fish, fish soup, crumble cake, and Saxon beer are available at the festival inn by the pond.

Sorbian-Lusatian Character

The Inselteich Radibor is located in the Sorbian settlement area — the region preserves the Sorbian language and culture to this day. The fish harvesting festival has a corresponding Sorbian-Lusatian character: traditional music, Sorbian costumes during demonstrations, supplemented by Sorbian information boards and details about pond management. Families will find a children's and family program; many visitors combine their day at the pond with a hike through the surrounding Upper Lusatian Pond and Heathland — a landscape worthy of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Saxony, Bautzen District, and Radibor

Radibor (Sorbian: Radwor) is a municipality in the Bautzen district of Saxony — about 10 km north of Bautzen, in the heart of the bilingual Sorbenland region. The Upper Lusatian pond landscape, characterized by hundreds of artificial carp ponds from the 13th to 19th centuries, has been protected as the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 'Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape' since 1996. The Lausitzer Fischwochen are one of the region's most important tourism themes — and the Abfischfest at Inselteich Radibor is one of its most convivial highlights.