Potsdam-Mittelmark: Castles, Forest and Water

Castles and palaces, forest trails, historic towns and water sports: Potsdam-Mittelmark offers a variety of themes to consider when planning a trip. If you are looking for a holiday apartment here, you can tailor your stay to whether you want to focus on culture and history, a tour through the countryside or time by the water. Some places combine several of these interests, while others have a clearly defined character of their own.

Castles and palaces with a history of their own

Rising above Bad Belzig is Eisenhardt Castle, a cultural landmark where visitors can experience the Middle Ages firsthand. Ziesar Castle offers a different historical perspective: in the Middle Ages, it was an important episcopal residence. Its well-preserved architecture makes the site as interesting as its role in the religious and political history of Potsdam-Mittelmark.

Wiesenburg Palace also invites visitors to take in its architecture and setting together: the palace is considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance and is surrounded by a landscaped park. Reckahn Palace, in turn, is dedicated to the life and work of the Prussian reformer Friedrich Eberhard von Rochow. The permanent exhibition “Reason for the People” has been presented there since 2001. The region therefore offers different ways to explore history side by side—from castle complexes to an exhibition about a historical figure.

Forests, trails and historic places

The Hoher Fläming shapes Potsdam-Mittelmark with its dense forests, gentle hills and historic castles. If you are interested in this combination, the 148-kilometre Castle Trail offers a practical guide: it runs through the entire Hoher Fläming Nature Park and connects four castles. The route also passes through Bad Belzig and Wiesenburg. The EuroVelo 1 offers a different perspective on the region, taking you through the landscapes and historic towns of Potsdam-Mittelmark.

Visitors can enjoy an unusual view of nature and history from the treetop path in the forest park at Beelitz-Heilstätten. This elevated path, almost one kilometre long, winds through species-rich mixed forest and past the historic buildings of the former A Quadrant. Its length is not comparable to the extensive hiking options on the Castle Trail: if you are planning a day trip, you can take these different scales into account when choosing an outing.

Water, cycling routes and local highlights

At Lake Wusterwitz, the municipality of Wusterwitz offers opportunities for water sports as well as cycling and hiking tours. Lake Beetzsee is also a water sports destination, set amid species-rich landscapes and protected areas. In the municipality of Schwielowsee, water-related activities go hand in hand with the towns of Caputh, Ferch and Geltow, which are known for art, culture and a maritime atmosphere. At Klostersee, the forest- and lake-rich municipality of Kloster Lehnin offers a place to relax. These places show different sides of a stay by the water, though they do not all offer the same experiences.

In Beelitz, the Asparagus Route connects the asparagus farms in the city’s districts. You can follow it by car or along cycling and hiking trails. This adds a local themed route to the region’s castles, forests and waterways as an option for a day trip. When following the routes around Beelitz, pay attention to the signs on site, as the signage may change.

Choose the right focus for your accommodation

When looking for a holiday apartment in Potsdam-Mittelmark, one simple question can help: should your stay focus mainly on culture, outdoor activities or water sports? Bad Belzig and Wiesenburg are also mentioned in connection with the Castle Trail; for water sports, consider the municipality of Wusterwitz on Lake Wusterwitz, Lake Beetzsee and the municipality of Schwielowsee. If you want to combine culture and nature, you can also choose between castle and palace history, the treetop path, and the cycling and hiking routes.

Discover more destinations: Beetzseeheide, Werder An Der Havel, Ziesar, Zauchwitz, Teltow, Radewege, Päwesin, Niemegk, Michendorf, Kleinmachnow, Groß Kreutz, Groß Briesen, Glindow, Geltow, Caputh, Borkheide, Bad Belzig, Babelsberg, Havelsee, Stahnsdorf, Kloster Lehnin, Marquardt, Wilhelmshorst, Gollwitz, Wiesenburg/Mark, Potsdam, Klein Briesen, Schwielowsee, Brück, Wollin, Golm, Petzow, Beetzsee, Linthe, Rabenstein/Fläming, Roskow, Seddiner See, Bensdorf, Gräben, Wusterwitz, Nuthetal, Beelitz.

To the overview of destinations: Brandenburg.