Through the Westhavelland Nature Park

Sometimes wide and straight, sometimes narrow and winding, the Lower Havel captivates canoeists with its natural charm. Here, they can enjoy nature in complete silence. A special spectacle awaits viewers in spring and autumn, when whole colonies of cranes, geese, and swans gather for a feast on the moist meadows of the nature park. Also worth seeing are the needle dam in Bahnitz - one of the last in Germany, the nature park center in Milow, as well as the cities of Rathenow and Havelberg. The entire tour is easy to paddle. On Lake Plauer, it is recommended to stay close to the shore in case of strong west winds.Boat rental: Various providers in Brandenburg an der Havel, as well as along the route and in HavelbergLength / Duration: 132 km (7-9 days)Start: Brandenburg an der HavelFinish: HavelbergArrival:Public transport: From Berlin Zoologischer Garten take the RE1 to Brandenburg an der Havel (about 1 hour)Car: From Berlin via the B5, A10 and B1 to Brandenburg an der Havel (about 1.5 hours).Departure:Public transport: From Havelberg take bus 900 to Glöwn. From here, continue with the RE2 (Cottbus) to Berlin Zoologischer Garten (about 1.5 hours).Car: From Havelberg take bus 900 (Stendal) to Schönhausen / Elbe. From here, take the RB34 to Rathenow and continue with the RB51 to Brandenburg an der Havel to reach your car (about 2 hours).Route: Brandenburg an der Havel - Crossing the Quenzsee and Plauer See - Pritzerbe - Detour to Pritzerber See possible (about 23 km), Pritzerbe - Lock in Bahnitz - via Milow to Rathenow - (about 25 km), Göttlin fort - Grütz, Parey and Schollene - Port Garz (about 26 km), journey through a unique natural landscape - continued to Havelberg (about 16 km, further journey to the Elbe possible, about 3 km)Land exploration:Brandenburg an der Havel: Cathedral, monastery with Archaeological State MuseumPritzerbe: Reed weaving with demonstration workshopMilow: Visitor Center Nature Park WesthavellandRathenow: Optics ParkHavelbergnautical information: Diverse: lakes and Havel with charming tributaries without motorboat traffic: Breitlingsee - Plauer See: Caution in strong west winds: from Pritzerbe narrow and winding with many tributaries to Rathenow: due to weak currents, paddling is possible in both directions: Lock in Bahnitz (self-service).Maps / Literature: DKV Water Guide for Eastern Germany: Canoe Guide for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony (DKV Regional Guide), German Canoe Association: Edition: 4 (April 1, 2011), ISBN-13: 978-3937743288, 19.95 eurosTourenAtlas Water Hiking / TA5 Berlin-Brandenburg with Spreewald: Oder, Havel, Spree + Tributaries, 1:75,000 & 1:25,000, Publisher: Jübermann, Edition: 5 (July 5, 2013), ISBN-13: 978-3929540666, 25 euros