Start / finish: Erkner railway station
Length / duration: 237 kilometres / approx. 5 hours per episode
Logo / route markings: ‘Nature park owl’ on a yellow background
Route conditions / route layout: Largely asphalted and mainly on separate cycle paths, partly on side roads with little traffic. Plenty of water and great views!
Route: Erkner, Grünheide, Fürstenwalde/Spree, Berkenbrück, Müllrose, Brieskow-Finkenheerd, Aurith, Eisenhüttenstadt, Neuzelle, Kobbeln, Treppeln, Siehdichum, Mixdorf, Beeskow, Lindenberg, Wendisch Rietz, Storkow, Bad Saarow, Spreenhagen, Hartmannsdorf, Erkner
Arrival/ departure:
- Public transport: RE1 or S3 to Erkner
- Car: E.g. public car parks at the start, end or stage locations
Episode 1
The tour starts in Erkner, where the Spree flows idyllically into Lake Dämeritz. The route leads through the wooded Grünheider Seenreich lake district. More than eight lakes are strung together like pearls, inviting visitors with their quiet shores and hidden bathing spots. Open spaces alternate with forest passages, and the view is characterised by vastness. The route continues briskly past Lake Trebus to Fürstenwalde. Thanks to the River Spree, the town was an important trading centre, as evidenced today by St. Mary's Cathedral, a rich brewing tradition and industrial culture in museums.
The photogenic flood bridge crosses the Oder-Spree Canal shortly before it joins the River Spree. The Kersdorf lock marks another highlight. The structure is part of the Oder-Spree Canal, which in 1891 enabled larger ships to navigate between the Oder, Spree and Berlin. Between the canal and the Spree, the route continues to Neubrück with its Spree weir and Neuhäuser lock, complete with a wooden bascule bridge.
Episode 2
At Müllrose, the route reaches the ‘gateway to the Schlaubetal valley’. The nature park visitor centre provides insights into the region. Along the historic Friedrich Wilhelm Canal, memories of towboats and sightings of kingfishers characterise the landscape before it's time for refreshments in Brieskow.
Tip: A detour to Eisenhüttenstadt connects the historic old town of Fürstenberg with the impressive architecture of Germany's first socialist planned city. The ‘Utopia and Everyday Life’ museum provides an in-depth look at life in the GDR.
The Oder river opens up to reveal vastness and tranquillity. A longer section follows the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route through the Ziltendorf lowlands, an important bird watching area. Neuzelle greets you from afar, sea eagles circle overhead.
Episode 3
In Neuzelle, it is worth visiting the monastery known as the ‘Baroque Wonder’ with its collegiate church, ‘Heavenly Theatre’ museum and monastery garden. The route follows in the footsteps of the monks into the Schlaubetal valley, climbs up to the Lieberoser Platte plateau and descends energetically into the densely wooded valley. In Kobbeln, Brandenburg's second largest boulder marks the way, and the source of the Schlaube river is located at Wirchensee lake. The Försterblick offers an impressive view.
Siehdichum shows off the fairytale side of the Schlaubetal valley. Monks once built a hunting lodge on Lake Hammersee. The destination is Beeskow, the ‘little pearl on the Spree’, with its historic town centre.
Tip: The old town tour takes you through the Fischerkietz district with its castle, along the medieval city wall to the market square, St. Mary's Church and the ‘oldest house’.
Episode 4
From Beeskow, the route continues through the Saarow hills to Lake Scharmützel, Fontane's ‘Märkisches Meer’ (Markish Sea). It is worth stopping at the Lindenberg Weather Museum before Wendisch Rietz welcomes you with its maritime flair and bathing spots. In Storkow, the inland dunes offer sweeping views of the lake and forest landscape.
Tip: Storkow Castle and the weather museum provide deeper insights into nature and history.
Bad Saarow is a sophisticated spa town with the charm of the 1920s. Alternatively, the SaarowTherme offers relaxation. Via Spreenhagen, the route leads through the Müggelspree floodplain back to Erkner.
Sights:
- Fürstenwalde: St. Mary's Cathedral, Town Hall, Town Museum and Brewery Museum
- Oder-Spree Canal: Kersdorf Lock on the Oder-Spree Canal
- Neubrück: Neubrück Locks
- Müllrose: Müllrose Nature Park Centre
- Near Müllrose: Friedrich Wilhelm Canal
- Eisenhüttenstadt: Socialist planned city of Eisenhüttenstadt with Museum of Utopia and Everyday Life
- Neuzelle: Neuzelle Monastery with collegiate church, baroque garden and Museum of Heavenly Theatre
- Kobbeln: Kobbeln boulder
- Beeskow: Historic town centre with St Mary's Church and castle
- Lindenberg: German Weather Museum Lindenberg
- Storkow (Mark): Waltersberge inland dunes, castle with nature park centre, Köllnitz nature reserve
- Bad Saarow: Bad Saarow villa architecture and SaarowTherme spa
- Grünheide (Mark): Heidereuter inn on Lake Peetz
- Trebus: Seeblick restaurant
- Fürstenwalde: Zunfthaus 383
- Near Berkenbrück: Spreetal country inn, Strandidyll
- Müllrose: Haus Katharinensee, Hotel Kaisermühle
- Brieskow-Finkenheerd: Fischer Schneider
- Aurith: Bauernstübchen, Radlerhof
- Eisenhüttenstadt: Restaurant Aktivist, Zum Kietz
- Neuzelle: Prinz Albrecht, Wilde Klosterküche
- Treppeln: Gasthof Köhler
- Siehdichum: Forsthaus Siehdichum
- Beeskow: Stadtcafé, Genuss Werk Stadt, cucina verde Burgcafe
- Herzberg: Gasthof Simke
- Wendisch Rietz: Fischhaus Glubigsee
- Storkow: Restaurant Alter Weinberg, Café Burgstübchen
- Bad Saarow: Carpe Diem, amiceria
- Near Spreenhagen: Gasthaus Paesch, Holly's Galerie Café
- Erkner: Camping Jägerbude, Eiscafé Bürgerle, DEKAFFEE coffee roastery
- Episode 1: Lakes and canal stories on the Oder-Spree Tour (km)
- Episode 2: Towards the Oder on the Oder-Spree Tour (km)
- Episode 3: From baroque wonders to enchanted stream valleys on the Oder-Spree Tour (km)
- Episode 4: From the Märkisches Meer back to the Spree on the Oder-Spree Tour (km)
- Cycling brochure "Dein Rad. Deine Auszeit. Dein Flow.", Online shop Seenland Oder-Spree (available in German and Polish)
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