Friedrichswalde: Clog-making and circular routes

Friedrichswalde combines a living tradition of clog-making, a distinctive history of church architecture and circular routes with different themes. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Friedrichswalde, you can plan your trip around the experiences you would like to focus on. When travelling together, you can weigh up the options: should the trip be mainly about traditional crafts, architectural history or time spent on a circular route?

Clog-making in Friedrichswalde

The local heritage association “Pfälzer Erbe” keeps the tradition of clog-making alive and nurtures it in Friedrichswalde. At the clog-making experience centre, a demonstration workshop shows how “Klompen” are made by hand and with specialist machinery dating from 1928. The combination of manual work and machinery makes the production process a tangible subject.

According to tourism information, visits are possible by prior arrangement only; you should confirm in advance whether this requirement still applies. For groups of six or more, the individual programme includes a demonstration of clog-making, a clog quiz, a historical film about clog-makers and a short excursion. The group offer thus combines the demonstration with other themed activities. As group offers may change, check the date and programme in advance.

Church architecture in the village

The Reformed Church in Friedrichswalde was built from 1776 to 1783. In 1890, its timber framing was clad in brick; the single-nave brick building makes a particularly striking architectural impression. The dates distinguish two successive construction phases: the original building period was followed by the brick cladding. “Single-nave” describes a layout with one main nave and also helps explain the architectural impression.

Another landmark is St Michael’s Church, located in the centre of Friedrichswalde village.

Circular routes with different themes

The Mellin circular route passes the old cemetery of the vanished village of Mellin and the Franz Neumann memorial stone. The stone commemorates the founder of theoretical and mathematical physics. Two historical points of interest thus come together along one route: the vanished village and a memorial stone connected with the history of science. If you are interested in these kinds of connections, this route offers a specific theme to explore.

The Prüßnick circular route has a different focus: it invites you to take a break on the shore of the Großer or Kleiner Prüßnicksee at any time of year. Unlike the Mellin circular route, where the cemetery and memorial stone shape the experience, this route centres on a lakeside break. This comparison can help you choose the focus you want for an outing. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out.

Barnim as a wider destination

The wider destination of Barnim offers additional cultural, landscape and activity themes. Chorin Monastery is a key work of North German Brick Gothic. The Niederfinow Boat Lift is Germany’s oldest still-operating boat lift; the Finow Canal is Germany’s oldest still-navigable artificial waterway. These regional landmarks represent the history of architecture and technology in Barnim.

The Barnim district has a total of 610 kilometres of cycle routes. The “Around the Schorfheide” circular hiking trail is 143 kilometres long and runs through Barnim Nature Park. These figures relate to different ways of getting around: a cycle route network in the district and a named circular hiking trail. Barnim also has numerous swimming lakes where you can relax. Lake cruises are offered on Lake Werbellin; canoe trips are possible on the Finow Canal. Barnim therefore offers everything from architectural and technological history to cycling and hiking routes and activities on the water.

Discover more destinations: Parlow, Chorin, Althüttendorf, Lunow-Stolzenhagen, Ahrensfelde, Britz, Joachimsthal, Hohenfinow.

View the wider travel overview: Barnim.