Oderbruchbahn-Radweg - Seelow to Letschin - cycling tour

The Oderbruchbahn was something like the lifeline of the region for more than half a century. Built from 1910 to 1912, the Oderbruch Railway connected the small and large towns of the Oderbruch with more than 40 stations over a total of 111 kilometers and at the same time offered a connection to the large metropolis of Berlin.
Today's Oderbruchbahn-Radweg runs along this railroad line and is a journey back to the beginnings of the 20th century and the history of rail transport. On this tour you cycle along the Oderbruchbahn-Radweg through the quiet landscape of the Oderbruch from Seelow to Letschin.

Length: 48 km

Start: Seelow train station
Destination: Letschin train station
Via: Seelow - Alt Tucheband - Golzow - Zechin - Letschin

Arrival: To Seelow RB 60
Departure: From Letschin RB 60

Course:
The day's stage of the Oderbruch Railway Cycle Route starts in the district town of Seelow, which is best known for the Seelow Heights, where the last and largest battle of World War II took place on German soil. This internationally significant memorial commemorates the battles between the Red Army and the Wehrmacht in the spring of 1945. Following in the footsteps of the Oderbruch Railway, the cycle path leads via Alt Tucheband to Golzow.
The Oderbruchbahn was something like the lifeline of the region for more than half a century. The first sod was turned in 1910, and the first line went into operation just one year later. The last section was inaugurated in 1912. There were more than 40 stations on the total 111 kilometers of the Oderbruchbahn. It connected the small and large towns of the Oderbruch and at the same time offered a connection to the large metropolis of Berlin. The trains of the Oderbruchbahn transported mainly the products of the farmers as well as the products of the sugar and starch factories and distilleries to Berlin. The last train rolled between Dolgelin and Seelow on the Oderbruchbahn line in 1994. The other sections of the line had already been shut down in the 1960s and 1970s. By the way: because passengers used to throw their apple scraps out of the window during the ride, there are so many apple trees along the line.
When you arrive in Golzow, it's worth taking a detour to the "Children of Golzow" film museum, where the long-term documentary "Children of Golzow" is on display. One of the longest film documentaries in the world began in 1961 with the enrollment of girls and boys from the village of Golzow in the Oderbruch. It did not end until 2005 and captures everyday life in the GDR, during the Wende period and after reunification.
The section on the Oderbruchbahn cycle path ends in Letschin. The railroad museum of Letschin brings the time of the Oderbruchbahn back to life. Old signal boxes are on display here, as is a Prussian compartment car.
The original main route of the cycle path on the former line of the Oderbruch Railway leads from Fürstenwalde (or Müncheberg) to Wriezen. There are several branch-off points along the route. From Müncheberg, a detour leads to the spa town of Buckow, a few kilometers away, with the museum of the Buckower Kleinbahn. In Wriezen, the tour can be extended to Bad Freienwalde. And for those who have not yet been to Zollbrücke, take the turnoff in Karlshof in the direction of Oderdeich.

Information on site: Tourist Information "Oderbruch und Lebuser Land" e.V. in SeelowInformation point LetschinSights along the route:Friedersdorf Art WarehouseFilm Museum GolzowSeelow Heights MemorialChurch SeelowSchweizerhaus Seelow