Auf den Spuren der Eiszeit (on track of the ice age - cycling tour)

Anyone setting off on a longer bicycle tour on a nice and warm day will probably not waste any time thinking about the last Ice Age. But in the region between Erkner, Hangelsberg, Trebus and Fürstenwalde in particular, knowledge learned at school about climatic and geological processes may be quite useful on this tour taking you on the trail of the Ice Age. After all, the appearance of this area, characterised today by many lakes, forests and the Spree River, was carved out by the last Ice Age. This was 18,000 years ago, but it explains the existence of some valleys, marshes and stones along the way. The stones, which lies here at the edge of the road, has travelled a long way from Scandinavia.

This is an area rich in contrasts. Open landscapes merge with the chain of lakes in the forests around Grünheide, offering a special highlight with Lake Trebuser See. The Ice Age lives on in Fürstenwalde as there are several boulders in the outdoor area of the municipal museum. The museum itself houses the most important collection of “Ice Age moraine” in Europe. It is located right next to Dom St. Marien cathedral. Very close by is the Spree Cycle Path that runs through a landscape carved out by the Ice Age all the way to Erkner. The spree shows its most beautiful side between Fürstenwalde and Erkner.

Length: 72 kilometres

Start/finish: S-Bahnhof Erkner (alternative end to the tour: Fürstenwalde/Spree - 32km)

Route: Erkner, Grünheide, Kagel, Fürstenwalde, Hangelsberg, Mönchswinkel, Hartmannsdorf, Erkner

Logo / route sign: not specified

How to get there:Train: Take the RE1 (Frankfurt/Oder) regional express train from Berlin central station to Erkner (about 30 minutes)Car: Take the B1 and the A10 motorway from Berlin to Erkner (about 1 hour)
Points of interest / background information:Erkner: Gerhart Hauptmann Museum, Genezareth-Kirche church, Heimatmuseum local history museumGrünheide: Permanent exhibition at the Robert-Havemann-Klubhaus building, brick church, Lake Peetzsee, Lake Werlsee, outdoor ropes courseKagel: “Alte Schule” museum, Straußenhof Kagel ostrich farmKienbaum: Church, “Roter Hahn“ monumentMönchwinkel: Heimatmuseum local history museumFürstenwalde: Cathedral, native animal park and municipal museum, rock garden
Detour suggestion: Rüdersdorf museum park

Possible combinations:European Bicycle Route R1Oder-Spree-Tour, a tour of the Oder-Spree regionOderbruchbahn Cycle PathRund um Berlin, a tour around BerlinSpree Cycle PathTour Brandenburg, a tour of Brandenburg
Trail conditions / surface: not specified

Maps / literature: Fahrrad- und Erlebniskarte im Maßstab 1:100.000 für das Seenland Oder-Spree (Landkreise Märkisch-Oderland, Oder-Spree und Stadt Frankfurt (Oder)), Pietruska Verlag, 4. Auflage, ISBN: 978-3-945138-01-4, Euro 6.90