Atterwasch: Village Church, Lake and Forest

Atterwasch brings together Lake Deulowitzer See and its woodland setting, a medieval village church and a landscape shaped by wetlands. This lets you consider different interests when planning your trip: water and nature, birdlife or architectural history. When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first think about which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Forest, Lake and Wet Meadows

Lake Deulowitzer See lies amid pine and deciduous forests. The lake is designated as an EU bathing water and has excellent bathing water quality. Bathing conditions can change seasonally, so check current bathing information before your visit. Water-based recreational use, which is permitted year-round, is a separate matter.

You can hire rowboats and pedal boats from the boat rental at Camp Deulo; suitable accessories are available. Seasonal advance booking is recommended if you plan to hire a boat. Anyone wishing to fish needs a valid fishing licence. These details provide guidance for planning a day by the water, while making clear that swimming, boat hire and fishing are not the same offering.

The landscape also offers other points of interest for nature lovers: the Atterwasch peat cutting is considered a breeding site for the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra; RLD 3) and the common crane (Grus grus). Nearby, north of Atterwasch, lies the Feuchtwiesen Atterwasch area. It is the lowland area of the Schwarzes Fließ, used mainly as grassland. This means the woodland by the lake and the open lowland shaped by the stream offer contrasting landscape impressions.

Village Church and Listed Building

The Atterwasch village church is a fieldstone building dating from around 1300. Inside, you can see the Gothic tabernacle, the Renaissance pulpit and the Baroque altar. These features span the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods, bringing different styles together in one church interior. If the church is locked, a key is available from the neighbouring rectory. Church music events take place from April to December.

A mill complex is another point of cultural and historical interest in Atterwasch: the property at Atterwascher Straße 48 is a listed building. Together with the village church, it offers places to visit on days when you want to explore architectural history as well as nature and water.

More Nature Destinations in the Wider Schenkendöbern Destination

The wider Schenkendöbern destination includes other nature and walking destinations. One of these is the “Reicherskreuzer Heide and Große Göhlenze” FFH site. It covers 3,063.85 hectares, is considered Brandenburg’s largest managed heathland and is home to 18 species listed as endangered on the Brandenburg Red List. The site lies mostly in the Spree-Neiße district, in the municipality of Schenkendöbern; smaller parts are in Jamlitz in the Dahme-Spreewald district and Neuzelle in the Oder-Spree district.

The nature trail in the Reicherskreuzer Heide is a circular route between Pinnow and Reicherskreuz, starting and ending at the observation tower. Another option is the circular hiking trail around Lake Göhlensee: it is about 6 kilometres long and takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete. Lake Göhlensee is home to great reed warblers and reed warblers, as well as many species of duck; bird sightings can vary depending on the season. Comparing the two helps with day planning: the nature trail is marked by its circular route and observation tower, while the approximate distance and duration are also given for Lake Göhlensee.

For a cycling tour, the Guben Lakes Circuit runs along the large lakes in the municipality of Schenkendöbern. Lake Pinnower See lies at the edge of the Schlaube Valley, is surrounded by pine, oak and mixed forests, and is located in a landscape conservation area; it is in Schenkendöbern OT Pinnow. If you travel from Groß Drewitz to Lake Göhlensee by bicycle or car, there is a car park before the first bungalows. Parking arrangements can change, so check the situation on site.

For the wider travel overview: Schenkendöbern.