Ins Land der Kehlen und Schluchten cycling tour

Granted, some of the climbs on this tour in the land of ravines and gorges are a little tough. After all, guests are cycling here in an area officially recognised as Mark Brandenburg's “Switzerland” (Schweiz) around the town of Buckow. The terrain captivates with fascinating landscapes. In the area between forests and Lake Schermützelsee, you sometimes feel like you are really in Switzerland. But it is nice that the cycle route not only goes up and down hills, but also runs through gorges and ravines. There are also moors and dense pine forests along the route, as well as museums, artist's gardens and the curious field stone pyramid in Garzau. The area has always been a hideaway for celebrities. Among the most famous were the actress and art director Helene Weigel and the playwright Bertolt Brecht who enjoyed the summer here until 1952. Their house in Buckow is now a memorial site. But even a hundred years earlier, a personal doctor of the Prussian king enthused about the place: “Your Majesty, the air in Buckow is magnificent.” Nothing has changed to this day.

Length: 51 kilometres

Start / finish: Strausberg

Logo / route sign: not specified

How to get there:Train: Take the S5 line on the S-Bahn (rapid transit train) from Berlin central station to Strausberg (about 1 hour).Car: From the centre of Berlin, take the Landsberger Allee and Landsberger Chaussee to Strausberg (about 2 hours).
Route: Strausberg, Grunow, Ihlow, Buckow, Waldsieversdorf, Garzin, Garzau, Rehfelde, Strausberg

Points of interest / background information:Strausberg: Straussee Ferry, St. Marien church, bathing area, Stadtmuseum local history museum, Flugplatzmuseum military airfield museum, Kulturpark Strausberg cultural parkIhlow: Biohof Ihlow organic farm, Antiquariat in der Scheune Ihlow second-hand shop, Zachariashof gallery and gardensBuckow: Brecht-Weigel-Haus, the former summer residence of Helene Weigel and Bertholt Brecht, railway museum, “Zum Alten Warmbad” gallery, Heimatstube local history parlour, church, KÖZwölf gallery, “Schweizer Haus” nature park, castle grounds, Eiszeitgarten ice age garden, “Drei Eichen” visitor centre, Lake Schermützelsee, Tornow-See lakes, Stobbertal Valley, several beautiful viewpointsWaldsieversdorf: Heimatstube local history parlour, artist's gardens, John-Heartfield-Haus, the former residence of the founder of photomontage, WaldKAuTz - cultural, tourist and exhibition centre in Waldsieversdorf, observation tower, Rotes Luch fen and meadow landscapeGarzin: Lake Langer See with a bathing areaGarzau: former park and Garzauer Pyramide field stone pyramid, bunker, churchRehfelde: Local history parlour, Entree-Galerie gallery, Cistercian church, Lilien-Rundweg circular trail, artist's studio
Possible combinationsEuropean Bicycle Route R1Tour Brandenburg, a tour of Brandenburg
Trail conditions / surface: not specified

Maps / literature: Seenland Oder-Spree (Landkreise Oder-Spree und Märkisch Oderland): Fahrrad- und Erlebniskarte", Maßstab 1 : 100.000 / 1 : 175.000 Landkarte-Folded Map, Verlag: Pietruska; Auflage: 4 (August 2017), ​ISBN 978-3-945138-01-4, Euro 6.90