13-Aug-2001 -- On our way from Linz to Brandenburg and after our visit to 49°N12°E we went into the former East Germany to visit this confluence in order to check the difference between the previous visits. We left the ‘Autobahn A9’ and made the approach from the south. We had to acknowledge that a lot of road constructions are in progress in this area and therefore we had to use a bypass towards Crossen. At the village of Wetterzeube (Sachsen-.Anhalt, Burgenlandkreis) we faced another road construction site. While searching for a bypass to Rossendorf we passed ‘Gaststätte zum Esel’ (~’Donkey’s Inn) and an old shopping center ‘BHG’.

Around this agricultural area the harvest activities were seen all over. Right at the end of Rossendorf as well as the end of the road towards the river ‘Weisse Elster’ we than could see the partly reconstructed old farmhouse as described by our predecessors. As we knew the spot is situated somewhere behind the farmhouse. Since there were ‘Prohibited’ signs we asked the owner for permission to walk around on his property. He told us that there was a mark on the hill behind the house but many years ago. He could not understand our aim and declared it as waste of money. Unfortunately he did not allow us to take a photo of him.

Finally we located the confluence at exactly the same location as visitor#1. Visitor#2 may have used another date than WGS84 – a date from which the owner told us. Since the spot is within the fenced area of the farmhouse which is protected by a dog we went back to asked the owner again. Then he was a little bit scared about doing some harm to his property. So we marked the CP at the fence with a distance addition as well as a direction arrow.

While looking around we noticed a historical background. The farmhouse itself was built in a solid manner, generous and quite huge even after some decades of communism you see this. The surrounding houses were small and not even leveled. A sign dated the construction back into the 18th century. This difference shows the social position of the wealthy farmer and his poor workers before the WW2. An old oak tree was declared as ‘Naturdenkmal’ (monument of nature).

At the other side of the Rossendorf we met two villagers who enjoyed to talk to us. They thought we were people from the nearby Leipzig who are willing to buy land from the farmer. They complained about the post-communism situation in this region. The property was now given back to the heirs of the farmer’s family. They are not willing to cultivate the land anymore and are just trying to sell it, and put up the ‘Prohibited’ signs everywhere. Even the fishermen are not allowed to park their cars on their property.

A nice place worth to visit it and to talk to its people about the history and their presents fears.