Woklapnica in Burg

The onset of snowfall and slippery roads didn’t stop the event from taking place at the Burger school: despite the weather, over 130 Burger residents turned up for the traditional woklapnica on Sunday afternoon. This ancient form of citizens’ assembly in the Sorbian/Wendish settlement area has always served to “review” the old year: the mayor reports on what has happened, names additions and departures, gives an outlook for the coming year and lets the citizens have their say.

It was the first event for Bernd Ragotzky, as the long-standing and popular mayor Hans-Jürgen Dreger had passed away at the beginning of the year. The entrepreneur Bernd Ragotzky was elected as his successor, who then called for a minute’s silence at the beginning of the Woklapnica, in which he also included the Burger district fire chief Marcus Weber, who died far too young.

The annual review showed that, contrary to some doubters, a lot happened in Burg in 2025. One outstanding example is the construction of the multi-purpose hall on the school grounds, which has now cost 27 million euros and could go into operation this year. Bernd Ragotzky was still a little reticent to give more details, as he had already learned in his first six months of service that unforeseen difficulties can always arise, ranging from circulation problems to price increases.

Among the outstanding events of the past year are the annual carnival, the Burger Heimat- und Trachtenfest, the Spreewald Marathon, the Sagennacht, the craftsmen’s and farmers’ market, the historic potato chopping and the Höfeadvent. The Heimatstube was reopened, Burg became a recognized “thermal sole spa”, the Willizscha bathing lake was upgraded, a bee castle was created in the spa park, which also received new legendary figures.

Bernd Ragotzky gave an outlook on the upcoming tasks, which include construction and renovation measures at the fire department museum, the Spreehafen and extensive road and bridge renovations. In 2026, Burg will host the Super Kokot and the traditional event “Tracht tanzt” on June 21 at the Waldhotel Eiche.

Local authority director Tobias Hentschel, responsible for the six local authorities in Burg, then went on to discuss other projects. The renovation of the school is a top priority for him, as is the purchase of a second ambulance and the final completion of the bridge to the barefoot park.

As every year, deserving members of the community received a certificate of honor. Bernd Ragotzky thanked Heike Budarick for her work in the children’s gymnastics group, Fritz Matschenz and Rolf Zimmermann from the Burg-Kauper fire department support association.

Afterwards, Burger clubs and associations took the opportunity to present their work and recruit members, such as Stefan Bramburger from the Bug-Dorf fire department support association and Nicole Ehrenberg, who heads the beekeeping association. Klaus Gebler reported on the work of the chronicler group and asked for anything worth preserving to be sent to him.

During the question and answer session, some citizens took the opportunity to raise their concerns. Among other things, they discussed the still missing ramp for wheelchair users at the cemetery, more greenery, but also silence, in the village and clarification of the follow-up costs for the use of the multi-purpose hall.

The traditional presentation of the new burgers was eagerly awaited, combined with “shopping” in the community by means of a round of schnapps. After all, 155 people moved to Burg last year. “It would have been unthinkable if everyone had bought schnapps that day,” Bernd Ragotzky remarked. Nevertheless, there were a few new introductions, including Tanja Urban and Matthais Richter, who have acquired a property at Polenzweg 11.

Burg 2025 in figures:

4286 Inhabitants

20 births

69 deaths

155 Immigration

149 Departures

Burg lost 45 inhabitants compared to 2024

Peter Becker, 07.01.2026