Ferropolis
Location
Gräfenhainichen, Germany
Current Local Time
Track Info
Ferropolis - Gräfenhainichen, Germany
Temporary drift circuit inside a former coal mine - surrounded by giant excavators, concrete walls and the waters of Lake Gremmin
When was the track built?
Ferropolis was not originally built for racing. The site formed part of the Golpa-Nord open-cast coal mine, where extraction began in 1964 and continued until 1991.
After mining ended, the area was transformed into the City of Iron, an industrial museum and events venue. Five enormous mining machines were preserved around an arena on a peninsula in Lake Gremmin.
When did motorsport begin?
The first Iron Drift King was held in August 2018. One hundred drivers competed across two classes during the opening event.
Drift Masters joined the following year, bringing leading European drivers and highly developed competition cars to the unusual industrial setting.
What's the circuit like?
- Temporary layout: The course is built inside the arena before the event and removed afterwards.
- Fast entry: Drivers approach the opening corner at around 130 km/h before deliberately making the rear tyres lose grip.
- Close concrete walls: Several clipping zones sit beside solid barriers, rewarding accuracy but leaving little space for mistakes.
- Heavy tyre smoke: Following drivers may struggle to see the course while chasing closely behind another car.
How does the competition work?
- Qualifying: Drivers complete individual runs and are judged on their line, angle, speed and overall commitment.
- Tandem battles: Two cars run together, with one leading and the other attempting to copy its movements at close range.
- Clipping zones: These marked areas show where the front or rear of the car should pass during the run.
- No lap record: Drifting is decided by judges rather than the shortest time, so Ferropolis has an entry-speed record instead.
What's the main event?
Iron Drift King is Ferropolis's signature motorsport weekend. It combines professional drift competition with car displays, exhibitions, music, camping and access to the team area.
Some of the most important battles take place after sunset, when lighting across the excavators turns the arena into a dramatic night-time stadium.
Why go?
Few motorsport venues have a backdrop like Ferropolis. The enormous mining machines tower over the cars, while the enclosed arena makes the engines and tyre noise feel especially intense.
The short course is also easy for newcomers to follow. Each run lasts only a short time, and spectators can quickly understand which drivers are faster, closer to the walls and more accurate.
Where's the best place to watch?
- Central arena stands: Best for seeing most of the course and following complete tandem battles.
- Entry section: Good for watching drivers begin the slide at high speed beside the concrete wall.
- North Corner: A strong position for seeing the following car close the distance to the leader.
- Wall Ride: Best for dramatic near-wall driving, rapid transitions and heavy tyre smoke.
- Pit area: Useful for viewing the cars, teams and repair work between competition sessions.
Ferropolis is near Gräfenhainichen in Saxony-Anhalt, between Berlin and Leipzig. It is not a permanent public race circuit, and the course, entrances, parking and spectator areas are created specifically for each event.
Transportation & Parking
Getting to Ferropolis (Germany)
Ferropolis is near Gräfenhainichen in Saxony-Anhalt, between Berlin and Leipzig. Driving is the easiest way to visit, but train and bus travel is also possible. Motorsport events take place among the enormous former mining machines beside Lake Gremmin.
Driving to Ferropolis
Driving is usually the simplest option, particularly for motorsport events. Ferropolis is close to the B107 and can be reached from the A9 motorway.
- From the A9: leave at Dessau-Ost and head towards Oranienbaum.
- At Oranienbaum: join the B107 towards Gräfenhainichen.
- After Jüdenberg: follow the signed turn towards Ferropolis.
- Navigation: search for “Ferropolis – Stadt aus Eisen”.
The final approach leaves the main road and follows the access road onto the Ferropolis peninsula.
Getting there by train
Ferropolis can be reached without a car. The nearest useful railway station is Gräfenhainichen, which has regional connections towards cities including Lutherstadt Wittenberg and Halle.
- Travel to Gräfenhainichen Station.
- Continue towards Ferropolis by local bus, taxi or any shuttle provided for your event.
- Allow extra time: the station is around 6 km from the venue, so it is not directly beside the entrance.
For major festivals and motorsport meetings, always check the organiser's travel information because additional shuttle services may operate.
Bus & event shuttles
Local bus 310 provides a useful public-transport option and serves the area between Dessau, Oranienbaum and Gräfenhainichen.
- Nearest useful stop: Abzweig Ferropolis.
- From Gräfenhainichen: bus 310 can take you towards the Ferropolis access road.
- From Dessau: the same route provides another way to approach Ferropolis without a car.
- Event shuttles: large events may provide their own buses from railway stations or major cities.
Evening and weekend services can be limited, and temporary road closures can affect bus 310 during major events. Check your return journey before leaving.
Parking
Ferropolis was designed to handle very large events and has considerably more parking capacity than its remote location might suggest.
- Permanent parking: around 400 spaces are available within the venue infrastructure.
- Major events: additional areas beside the B107 can provide space for up to around 7,000 cars.
- Parking charges: depend on the event and should be checked before travelling.
- Follow event signs: temporary car parks may use different entrances from the normal museum parking area.
Do not assume the normal Ferropolis parking arrangement will apply during a large drift, festival or special event.
Flying in
Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) is the most convenient major airport for Ferropolis and is roughly 58 km away by road.
- Rental car: normally the easiest option for the final journey.
- By public transport: use regional trains towards the Gräfenhainichen area and complete the journey by bus or taxi.
- Taxi: a direct airport transfer is possible but will normally be much more expensive than renting a car or using the train.
If you are flying specifically for an event, check whether the organiser offers a long-distance coach or shuttle before booking a rental car.
Understanding the venue
Ferropolis is very different from a normal race circuit. It is a former lignite mine containing five enormous industrial machines, with a large arena and paved areas between them.
- No permanent race circuit: motorsport organisers create temporary courses within the venue.
- Different entrances: spectator, camping, competitor and general visitor access can change for each event.
- Large site: allow time to walk between parking, entrances and spectator areas.
- Major motorsport: Ferropolis hosts drift and automotive events alongside concerts and festivals.
Always use the map supplied by your individual motorsport event rather than relying on the normal museum layout.
Cycling & camping
Ferropolis is also unusually friendly to cyclists and campers, although normal visitor arrangements can be replaced by event-specific rules.
- Cycling: the venue has around 1,000 bicycle parking spaces.
- E-bikes: a charging point is available during normal museum operation.
- Camping: Ferropolis operates seasonal camping areas for tents, campers and motorhomes.
- Event weekends: motorsport and festival organisers may use completely separate camping tickets and areas.
If camping is part of your race weekend, book through the event organiser rather than assuming normal Ferropolis camping is available.
Race-day tips
- Check the event map: the temporary course and spectator entrances can change from one event to another.
- Arrive early: large crowds funnel onto a small number of roads around the peninsula.
- Wear comfortable shoes: expect a significant amount of walking around the industrial site.
- Prepare for the weather: much of Ferropolis is exposed with limited shelter from sun, rain or wind.
- Bring hearing protection: particularly for drift events and young spectators.
- Save the address: Ferropolisstraße 1, 06773 Gräfenhainichen, Germany.
For a first visit, driving directly to Ferropolis is the easiest option. Without a car, travel to Gräfenhainichen by train and use bus 310, a taxi or an event shuttle for the final journey.
Parking, bus services, camping areas, entrances and traffic arrangements can change significantly between events. Check the official Ferropolis page and your individual motorsport event information before travelling.
Nearby Activities
Things to do around Ferropolis (Gräfenhainichen, Germany)
Ferropolis is unlike almost any other motorsport venue. Known as the “City of Iron”, it is a former open-cast coal mine filled with enormous preserved mining machines on a peninsula in Lake Gremmin. Temporary drift courses transform its central arena into a spectacular motorsport venue, while lakes, Bauhaus architecture, historic towns and UNESCO-listed gardens are all nearby.
Family-friendly highlights nearby
- Ferropolis Industrial Museum: Explore five enormous machines preserved from the former Golpa-Nord lignite mine. The scale is impressive even if you have no interest in mining history.
- Ferropolis playground: Younger visitors can play with equipment inspired by the giant mining machines surrounding the site.
- Lake Möhlau: A nearby lake surrounded by pine forest, with a sandy beach and space to relax during warmer weather.
- Wörlitz Park: A huge landscaped garden filled with lakes, bridges, temples and historic buildings. The park itself can be explored freely throughout the year.
Culture & rainy-day winners
- Bauhaus Museum Dessau: Learn how the Bauhaus changed modern architecture, furniture and graphic design. You do not need any design knowledge to enjoy the exhibits.
- Bauhaus Building: Visit one of the most important buildings in modern architecture and see where the famous design school worked after moving to Dessau in 1925.
- Zschornewitz Power Station: Only a short drive from Ferropolis, this former power station helps explain how locally mined lignite was turned into electricity. Guided visits should be booked ahead.
Eat & drink around Ferropolis
- Gräfenhainichen: The closest town for bakeries, supermarkets, cafés, pizza and relaxed German restaurants.
- Wörlitz: A good lunch stop when visiting the gardens, with cafés and restaurants clustered around the historic centre and park.
- Dessau: Head here for the widest choice of restaurants and an easier evening out after a daytime event.
- Event food: Major Ferropolis events usually bring their own food and drink areas, but the selection and payment arrangements depend on the organiser.
Get outdoors around the lakes
- Lake Gremmin: Ferropolis sits on a peninsula surrounded by the lake that now fills the former open-cast mine, giving the industrial landscape an unusual mix of water and giant machinery.
- Lake Möhlau: Head west of Gräfenhainichen for a quieter lakeside stop with pine forest and a sandy shore.
- Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom: The wider UNESCO-listed landscape links parks, palaces, meadows and waterways and is particularly good for walking or cycling.
Easy day trips if you're extending your stay
- Wörlitz Park: The easiest cultural day trip, combining landscaped gardens, canals, bridges and Wörlitz Palace.
- Dessau: Explore the Bauhaus Building, Masters' Houses and Bauhaus Museum for one of Europe's most important collections of modern design and architecture.
- Lutherstadt Wittenberg: Walk through the historic centre and visit landmarks associated with Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, including the Castle Church.
- Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom: If you have a full day, explore several of the region's palaces and parks rather than limiting yourself to Wörlitz alone.
Good to know during motorsport events
- Ferropolis is not a normal racetrack: Drift organisers build a temporary course for each event, so layouts, viewing areas and entrances can change from year to year.
- The museum may close around major events: Setup and dismantling can require the normal Ferropolis visitor attraction to shut for several days.
- Check camping arrangements: Camping directly at Ferropolis is currently offered only as part of selected events rather than as a normal everyday campsite.
- Prepare for an outdoor arena: Shade can be limited, so sunscreen and water are useful in hot weather while a waterproof layer helps when conditions change.
- Bring hearing protection: Drift cars running between the giant steel machines can be extremely loud, particularly for children.
Motorsport schedules, temporary layouts, museum access, camping, attraction opening hours and event arrangements can change - check current information before travelling.