Discover Havelland: birdlife, cycling routes and culture
Accommodation in Havelland
Havelland can be explored by bike, on the water, and through its natural and cultural attractions. On the south shore of Lake Gülpe, an approximately 1.5-kilometre educational trail with illustrated information boards invites visitors to observe birds. The bird migration is particularly impressive: in spring and autumn, up to 100,000 geese and hundreds of cranes gather there, along with numerous waders, ducks and great egrets.
Cycling: choose your own route or a well-known trail
The numbered junction signs in Havelland make it easy to plan your own cycling routes. If you prefer to follow a named route, you can take the Havelland Cycle Route. It leads through the Havelländisches Luch via Nauen, Ribbeck and Rathenow to the Westhavelland Nature and Star Park. The route is mostly paved, flat and pleasant to ride. With the numbered junctions, you can plan your own route; the Havelland Cycle Route, by contrast, passes through Nauen, Ribbeck and Rathenow.
Bird migrations and lowland landscapes
Spring and autumn provide a specific seasonal window for birdwatching at Lake Gülpe. The Westhavelland Nature Park Centre brings the lowland landscape, the renaturalisation of the Lower Havel, Germany’s last great bustards and Germany’s first Star Park to life for visitors of all ages. Another way to experience nature is at the Milow natural swimming area. It lies on the edge of the “Untere Havel Süd” nature reserve in the Westhavelland Nature and Star Park and has a wide sandy beach.
The Nature Park Centre also processes some of its harvest into apple juice, which is available to buy. Check availability before your trip.
Cultural sites with varied themes
The Lilienthal Centre Stölln presents an exhibition about Lilienthal that is significant beyond the region. The Lilienthal Trail connects the centre with the IL 62 “Lady Agnes” at the foot of Gollenberg. In Ribbeck, the Fontane Museum in the castle explores the connections between Theodor Fontane, his century, Ribbeck and the castle’s architectural history. It opened on 1 May 2019 and presents these themes using modern museum technology. Ribbeck Castle is also a tourist information point for the Havelland travel region.
Further cultural insights are offered by the Toy Museum in Havelland in Kleßen, with toys spanning 150 years of childhood, and the Colonists’ Church in Großderschau. It was built in 1785 on the orders of Frederick II, following the completion of the drainage works, and is the only church the king had built for the colonists. These places have different focuses, from toys and museum displays to the history of the drainage works.
On the water and with far-reaching views
Activities on and by the water are another option: you can explore Havelland by canoe on the Havel. Rathenow Optik Park features, among other things, climbing towers, a barefoot trail and a large inflatable bouncy cushion. Raft trips are also offered there on a nearby old branch of the Havel. For a view of the landscape, the Three Mountains Tour in Milower Land leads to the open summit of Milower Berg. From there, the view stretches far across the green plains of Havelland.
Choose a holiday apartment to suit your interests
When choosing a location, it helps to first consider what you want your stay to centre on: creating your own cycling routes, birdwatching at Lake Gülpe, cultural sites such as Ribbeck and Stölln, or activities on the Havel. Compare the location of a holiday apartment with the places you want to visit. This lets you tailor your search to your travel plans without assuming there is just one way to explore all of Havelland.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Stechow-Ferchesar, Semlin, Friesack, Wassersuppe, Dallgow-Döberitz, Nauen, Falkensee, Börnicke, Brieselang, Ketzin, Havelaue, Retzow, Rathenow, Schönwalde-Glien, Premnitz, Rhinow, Milower Land, Nennhausen, Wustermark, Märkisch Luch, Gollenberg, Kleßen-Görne, Kotzen, Seeblick.
Go to the main travel overview: Brandenburg.
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