diff --git a/spring-data-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfiguration.java b/spring-data-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfiguration.java
index bc78f2c36..00c0a0716 100644
--- a/spring-data-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfiguration.java
+++ b/spring-data-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfiguration.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractSessionConfiguration implements BeanFactoryAware {
 	/**
 	 * Gets a required bean of the provided {@link Class type} from the {@link BeanFactory}.
 	 *
-	 * @param <T> {@link Class parameterized clas type} of the bean.
+	 * @param <T> {@link Class parameterized class type} of the bean.
 	 * @param beanType {@link Class type} of the bean.
 	 * @return a required bean of the given {@link Class type} from the {@link BeanFactory}.
 	 * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanFactory#getBean(Class)
@@ -125,13 +125,14 @@ public abstract class AbstractSessionConfiguration implements BeanFactoryAware {
 
 	/**
 	 * Returns the local data center name used for
-	 * {@link com.datastax.oss.driver.api.core.loadbalancing.LoadBalancingPolicy}.
+	 * {@link com.datastax.oss.driver.api.core.loadbalancing.LoadBalancingPolicy}, defaulting to {@code datacenter1}.
+	 * Typically required when connecting a Cassandra cluster. Not required when using an Astra connection bundle.
 	 *
-	 * @return the local data center name.
+	 * @return the local data center name. Can be {@literal null} when using an Astra connection bundle.
 	 */
 	@Nullable
 	protected String getLocalDataCenter() {
-		return null;
+		return "datacenter1";
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfigurationIntegrationTests.java b/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfigurationIntegrationTests.java
index 874b25f57..672303542 100644
--- a/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfigurationIntegrationTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/AbstractSessionConfigurationIntegrationTests.java
@@ -68,12 +68,6 @@ class AbstractSessionConfigurationIntegrationTests {
 			return "system";
 		}
 
-		@Nullable
-		@Override
-		protected String getLocalDataCenter() {
-			return "datacenter1";
-		}
-
 		@Override
 		protected int getPort() {
 			return new CassandraConnectionProperties().getCassandraPort();
diff --git a/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/CqlTemplateConfigIntegrationTests.java b/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/CqlTemplateConfigIntegrationTests.java
index 0b6ce38be..faac9197b 100755
--- a/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/CqlTemplateConfigIntegrationTests.java
+++ b/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/config/CqlTemplateConfigIntegrationTests.java
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ import org.springframework.context.ConfigurableApplicationContext;
 import org.springframework.context.annotation.AnnotationConfigApplicationContext;
 import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;
 import org.springframework.data.cassandra.core.cql.CqlTemplate;
-import org.springframework.data.cassandra.test.util.IntegrationTestsSupport;
 import org.springframework.data.cassandra.test.util.CassandraExtension;
+import org.springframework.data.cassandra.test.util.IntegrationTestsSupport;
 
 import com.datastax.oss.driver.api.core.CqlSession;
 
@@ -47,11 +47,6 @@ class CqlTemplateConfigIntegrationTests extends IntegrationTestsSupport {
 			return "system";
 		}
 
-		@Override
-		protected String getLocalDataCenter() {
-			return "datacenter1";
-		}
-
 		@Override
 		protected int getPort() {
 			return CassandraExtension.getResources().getPort();
diff --git a/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/support/AbstractTestJavaConfig.java b/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/support/AbstractTestJavaConfig.java
index 350d27dc5..b80b75e10 100644
--- a/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/support/AbstractTestJavaConfig.java
+++ b/spring-data-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/cassandra/support/AbstractTestJavaConfig.java
@@ -34,8 +34,4 @@ public abstract class AbstractTestJavaConfig extends AbstractSessionConfiguratio
 		return PROPERTIES.getCassandraPort();
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	protected String getLocalDataCenter() {
-		return "datacenter1";
-	}
 }