Semlin between lakes, sailing and the village church

Semlin combines the character of a place in the Hohennauener-Ferchesarer lake district with cycling routes, a designated bathing area and a strong sailing identity. The 10-kilometre-long lake district is connected to the Havel and Lake Witzker; Semlin is one of its tourist-oriented locations. When planning your vacation, you can therefore consider a range of interests: water, activities and small discoveries in the village.

Lakes, bathing area and sailing

The Semlin bathing area at Bauerndeich is on Lake Hohennauen and is designated as an EU bathing site. The water quality is checked regularly. To reach the bathing area, follow Dorfstraße to the lake, then continue right along the lakeshore to Bauerndeich. This gives you a clear route to this waterside location.

In the Westhavelland, Semlin is often called the “Mecca of sailing”. A holiday and leisure farm offers swimming, boat and bicycle rentals, as well as fitness, a sauna and wellness facilities. It also offers family-friendly accommodation and a wide range of dining options. Water and activity are therefore among the different vacation-planning themes, alongside relaxation and dining.

Cycling route and hiking trail

For trips on land, the Rathenow–Semlin cycling route, also called Semliner Chaussee, offers a specific option: the round trip is about 12 kilometres long and has several places to stop and rest in Semlin. The approximate distance helps you fit the route into your day without implying a specific travel time.

Another option is the Ferchesarer Weg hiking trail, which runs through the golf course in Semlin. The routes therefore differ in their described form: one is an approximately 12-kilometre round trip with places to rest, while the other is a named hiking trail through the grounds. When choosing a holiday apartment in Semlin, you can base your decision on your own priorities—for example, a bathing area and sailing, or cycling and hiking. When booking, it is worth checking how close the accommodation is to the activities that matter to you.

Village church, monument and annual events

The village itself offers another way to discover Semlin. The half-timbered church is simple and typical of village churches in the Havelland; it was built between 1730 and 1732. Its clear architectural form and precise dates make it a tangible historical landmark in the village. The Semlin Witches’ Monument is described as the first monument of its kind in the new federal states.

Recurring events include the Semlin Summer Festival and the Semlin 3-Lakes Run; both take place every year. If you would like to plan your visit around an event, check the current dates as you plan. This lets you weigh up a stay focused on water and trails against a visit centred on local events, without having to base your entire vacation on a single occasion.

A closer look at Rathenow

The wider destination of Rathenow has a distinct focus on urban history and optics. Rathenow’s historic centre is on an old town island encircled by four arms of the Havel. It includes sections of the old town wall, Kirchberg and St. Marien-Andreas Church. The Rathenow Optical Industry Museum displays around 1,200 exhibits on the history of optics. These are features of Rathenow, not Semlin. For travel planning, Semlin’s lake landscape, sailing and village church thus offer different interests from Rathenow’s urban history and optics.

Discover more destinations: Gollenberg, Schönwalde-Glien, Nennhausen, Kleßen-Görne, Wustermark, Kotzen, Friesack, Retzow.

View the broader travel guide: Havelland.