Stage 3: “Paul-Gerhardt Path” from Grünau - Zeuthen

Forest and Water
The third stage is one of the most varied of the entire Paul-Gerhardt path, with forest paths and trails along Krumme Lake, varied woodland with some water and marsh ponds. About two thirds into this stage, you will come across the 44-metre-high brick tower of Eichwalde. It was built in 1912 and supplied with water not only Eichwalde but also the surrounding towns and even Berlin. After World War II it was no longer used and fell into disrepair. The tower has now been refurbished and houses flats as well as an engineering office. After Eichwalde, most of the route takes you along Lake Zeuthener See. An insider tip for the end of this stage is the Chinese Garden in Zeuthen.
Length (duration): 12 kilometres (about 3 hours)
Route sign: Signets and hiking signs of the Paul-Gerhardt path
Route:
There are two ways to get to Berlin’s city border: Through the forest on the Grünau side on this side of Lake Langer See (Dahme) or along the other side of the lake. After the city border until Zeuthen you will walk along some pavements in quiet residential areas with beautiful houses and gardens, mostly quiet side roads, and through several park-like paths along the shore of the lake.
Trail conditions:
Unpaved forest paths, and pavements in towns.
As the forest path on this side of Lake Langer See is used by cyclists, it is advisable, especially at weekends, to walk through the forest on the Grünau side, on this side of Lake Langer See, which cyclists do not have access to.
Points of interest along the route:
Nature: Forest from the Grünau side to Schmöckwitz with Krumme Lake, forest path along Lake Langer See from the Wendschloss side to the ferry to Schmöckwitz with many viewing spots, from Schmöckwitz garden landscapes and beautiful resting and viewing spots at Lake Zeuthener See, Chinese Garden in Zeuthen.
Culture: Emperor’s pagoda (Chinese Garden in Zeuthen), “Hankels Ablage” in Zeuthen, Fontane exhibition in Zeuthen, brick tower in Eichwalde, Protestant church in Eichwalde with the world’s only surviving Parabahm organ.

By public transport:
Start: Berlin-Grünau ferry or S-Bahn station Grünau
Finish: S-Bahn station Zeuthen
The start and the ferries are within VBB tariff zone Berlin-AB, the finish is in tariff zone Berlin-ABC
How to get there by car:
Free parking is available near the start and finish.

Recommended maps/Literature:
Stadtpläne von Berlin
Aus der Serie “Schöne Heimat”: Flutgrabenaue, Königs Wusterhausen und Umgebung, Verlag Dr. Barthel; ISBN 978-3-89591-097-5
Reschke, Manfred: Paul-Gerhardt-Weg “Natur und Kultur zwischen Berlin und Spreewald”, Trescher-Verlag; 1. Auflage 2017, 168 Seiten, 80 Fotos, 25 Karten und Stadtpläne, farbige Klappkarten, ISBN 978-3-89794-354-4
Find inspiration in the diary specifically published for this trail. The tourist information centres along the way give you hiking stickers for each completed stage, which you can stick in your diary. They also give you song sheets of the poet’s most famous songs.
You can find all souvenirs of the Paul-Gerhardt path to www.dahme-seenland.de/service/souvenirs/

Possible combinations/connection to other hiking trails:
Fontane Hiking Trail