The reeds rustle in the wind, sailboats dot the horizon, and a calm bustle reigns on the water. For over a hundred years, Lake Schwieloch has been considered a place of longing, nestled in a densely wooded, ice age-shaped landscape with reed belts, quiet bays, open lake views and small villages. If you want to explore the lake, the best way is to get on your bike in Beeskow, follow the Spree to the big water and take in the stories along the way that stretch all the way to Australia – a day trip that puts nature and tranquillity before speed.
Start/finish: Beeskow railway station or market square
Length/duration: 53 km/approx. 4–4.5 hours
Logo/route marker: Bicycle wheel at bottom right, blue lake in the background
Character: Moderate day trip through the charming landscape along the River Spree and around Lake Schwielochsee; mostly on tarmac cycle paths and side roads. Many lake views and swimming options.
Route: Beeskow, Ranzig, Trebatsch, Zaue, Goyatz, Niewisch, Friedland, Beeskow
Extra tip: Binoculars for the distant views, swimming gear in summer
Arrival/departure:
Public transport: Take the S-Bahn or regional train to Königs-Wusterhausen, then take the RB36 to Beeskow (also from Frankfurt (Oder)).
Beeskow with RB36 to Königs-Wusterhausen, then RE2.
Car: E.g. public car park near the station or Fangschleusenstraße on the Löcknitz.
Route description:
Beeskow – where history tells stories
Beeskow welcomes visitors to its historic old town, almost completely surrounded by a city wall, with the tower of the large St. Mary's Church rising above it. On the nearby Spree Island, Beeskow Castle presents its massive walls. Rowing boats lie quietly in the water, ducks accompany the first few metres on the peaceful Spree with their friendly quacking. The Spree Cycle Route leads swiftly southwards, and soon Ranzig greets you. Behind the pine trees, the clear Ranziger Lake rejoices in an early swimming stop.
The Leichhardt village of Trebatsch
After crossing a bridge over the Spree, almost everything in Trebatsch revolves around Ludwig Leichhardt. The natural scientist is often referred to as the ‘Humboldt of Australia’. From the banks of the Spree, legendary expeditions later took him into the vastness of the fifth continent, where he went missing in 1848 during a crossing.
Here, they say ‘beautiful view’
A short climb, then the scene opens up and, at the top, the Swietenberg offers a clear view: bands of light, sailing boats, curves in the riverbank and islands of forest on the east bank.
And Australia again and again
Australia remains a quiet companion: at the Zauer nature campsite ‘Ludwig Leichhardt’, a group of kangaroos welcome you on the beach. A little further on, it becomes quiet, because the Romanesque hall church in Zaue, built in 1420 and later expanded in the Baroque style, preserves frescoes and a cool tranquillity. Below, the dahlia garden complements this gem, where even a ‘Leichhardt dahlia’ blooms.
Life in the water villages
Halfway along the route lies Goyatz on Lake Schwielochsee. Small marinas, clattering masts and ropes in the wind characterise the scenery. Occasionally, the MS Schwielochsee sets off on a round trip, and in the tourist information office in the restored railway station with its old carriages, history unfolds as goods were transported here via the Oder, Havel and Spree rivers and transferred to the horse-drawn railway towards Lusatia.
East bank at a leisurely pace
Small bungalow settlements lie between alders and pines on the east bank. In Niewisch, information boards tell of the nature reserve. If you like, you can try Schwielochsee eel from Mario Fischer's own smokehouse, an organic farmer and fisherman, or stop off at the local inn before the tour leaves the large lake towards Friedland.
Back to Beeskow
Behind Friedland, an avenue of fruit trees accompanies the path. In Leißnitz, Brandenburg's only hand-operated passenger ferry crosses over to Ranzig – a charming shortcut for those who started in Goyatz, or a little spectacle for those watching the change of banks.
Back in Beeskow, the tour comes to a beautiful end at Spree Island with its idyllic city harbour.
Our tip: Cross the Spree on Brandenburg's only hand-operated cable ferry between Leißnitz and Ranzig!
Sights:
- Beeskow: historic town centre, castle, St. Mary's Church
- Trebatsch: Ludwig Leichhardt Museum
- Between Trabatsch and Zaue: Leichhardt view from Swietenberg hill
- Zaue: bathing area at the ‘Ludwig Leichhardt’ nature campsite and church in Zaue
- Goyatz: bathing area on the Ludwig Leichhardt bank, historic Spreewald railway station
- Niewisch: nature reserve on the banks of the river near Niewisch
- Friedland: Streleburg
- Leißnitz: hand-operated cable ferry
- Beeskow: Stadtcafé, Genuss Werk Stadt, cucina verde Burgcafé, Trattoria Venezia on the banks of the Spree
- Ranzig: Landfleischerei Ranzig
- Zaue: Waldklause
- Goyatz: Gasthaus Hafenterasse
- Niewisch: Gasthaus Schwielochsee
- Friedland: Eiscafé Zucker am Markt in Friedland
- Beeskow Tourist Information
- Oder-Spree Tour
- Spree Cycle Path
- Tour Brandenburg
- Cycling brochure ‘Dein Rad. Deine Auszeit. Dein Flow.’, Online shop Seenland Oder-Spree
- “Seenland Oder-Spree (Landkreise Oder-Spree und Märkisch Oderland): Fahrrad- und Erlebniskarte”, Maßstab 1 : 100.000 / 1 : 175.000, Euro 6.90 in the shop
- “Entdeckertouren” brochure
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