A guided visit to the Spreewaldkonserve Golßen factory, a family-run producer operating for more than 70 years, including a lecture-room tasting of four gherkin products, an overview of the full product range, and a short film on the production process from field to jar.
Spreewaldkonserve Golßen, trading as Spreewaldhof, has processed fruit and vegetables from the Spreewald region for more than 70 years at its plant on Bahnhofstraße 1 in Golßen, a town on the southern edge of the Spreewald biosphere reserve. Gherkins make up roughly 60 percent of the company's output, produced under the Spreewaldgurken protected geographical indication (g.g.A.) that the Spreewaldverein secured in 1999, meaning the cucumbers must be grown and processed within the defined Spreewald region to carry the name. Arranged tours bring visitors into a lecture room for a tasting of four different gherkin products alongside an overview of the wider product line, which also includes horseradish and sauerkraut, followed by a short film walking through the steps from harvested cucumber to finished jar. Because this is an active production facility rather than a visitor center, tours run only by prior arrangement rather than on a fixed public schedule, and group organizers should contact the plant ahead of a visit to confirm a date and group size. The visit suits travelers who have already seen Spreewaldgurken sold at markets and want to understand the scale and process behind the PGI label.
| Duration | Approximately 45–60 minutes |
|---|---|
| Booking | Group tours must be arranged in advance directly with the plant; the facility is not set up for unannounced walk-in tours. |
What is included
- Introductory talk on the company's 70-plus year history
- Short film on gherkin, horseradish, and sauerkraut production
- Tasting of four gherkin products in the lecture room
- Overview of the full Spreewaldhof product range
Good to know
- Operator
- Spreewaldkonserve Golßen GmbH
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Highlights
- Visit to a 70-plus year family-run PGI gherkin producer
- Tasting of four distinct gherkin products
- Short film covering the field-to-jar production process
- Explanation of the Spreewaldgurken PGI designation
- Located in Golßen, on the southern edge of the Spreewald reserve
Tips for visiting
- Contact the plant well in advance, as tours are arranged rather than run on a walk-in basis
- Groups get the most out of the visit; solo travelers should ask whether they can join an existing scheduled group
- Bring a bag for jars purchased afterward, since the on-site shop sells the full product range
- Combine with a stop in Lübbenau or Lübben, both within a short drive of Golßen
- Ask about seasonal timing, since the cucumber harvest and peak production run July through September
When to visit
Any time of year for the tour and tasting, though July through September aligns the visit with the peak cucumber harvest.
Accessibility
The lecture room and tasting area are on ground level, but as an active production facility, some areas of the plant are not accessible to visitors with mobility limitations.
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Frequently asked questions
What does 'g.g.A.' mean on the label?
It stands for geschützte geografische Angabe, the German term for the EU's Protected Geographical Indication, which Spreewaldgurken received in 1999, restricting the name to cucumbers grown and processed within the Spreewald region.
Can individual travelers join a tour, or only groups?
Tours are generally arranged for groups; individual travelers should contact the plant to ask about joining a scheduled group tour.
Is there a shop on site?
Yes, the full Spreewaldhof product range, including gherkins, horseradish, and sauerkraut, is available for purchase after the tour.
Is the tour conducted in English?
Tours are generally conducted in German; groups requiring English commentary should ask when arranging the visit.
How far is Golßen from Lübbenau?
Golßen is about a 20-minute drive south of Lübbenau, on the edge of the Spreewald region.