On the trail of the glassmakers

Thanks to the rich quartz sand deposits and forest areas, the first glassworks in Grimnitz was built after 1571. It was relocated to Althüttendorf in 1653. Bohemian and Hessian glassmakers settled there, producing drinking vessels, window glass, and potash. In 1792, the last glassworks left the village and moved to other Brandenburg forest areas with quartz sand deposits. Today, the annual Glass Days take place in July or August in Joachimsthal, organized by the FV Grimnitzer Glashütten e.V. There are show demonstrations in the association's glass workshop for 6 days with glassblowers from all over Germany.

Length: 24.7 km

Start/Finish: Schorfheide-Info in Joachimsthal

Places: Joachimsthal, Altenhof, Althüttendorf, Joachimsthal

Signage: signposted, marked (from Altenhof red bar)

Nodes: 66 - 50 - 10 - 50 - 66

Arrival: NEB RB 63 from Eberswalde, RE 3 and RB 24 from Berlin, by car via the A 11 motorway, by bike via the Usedom cycle path

Route description: The tour leads through the city towards Altenhof (on the country road), passing by the seezeit resort. Altenhof's direct location on Lake Werbellin invites you to take a break at the beach promenade and Fontaneplatz. Then turn right into the forest towards Althüttendorf. From the designed village square, with the Germanic Fate Goddesses, head back to Joachimsthal on the cycle path along Grimnitzsee opposite the hiking church. During the summer months, refreshments and a break await on the lawns by the lakes.

Places of interest and information: BIORAMA viewing platform and Kaiserbahnhof, Lake Werbellin, hiking church Althüttendorf and Germanic Fate Goddesses, detour to the nature observation point Althüttendorf (approx. 600m towards Neugrimnitz)

Path quality: Asphalt/gravel/cobblestone/cycle path

Map recommendation: Pharusplan Schorfheide with the hiking trail "Around the Schorfheide" and node system for cyclists, scale: 1:42,000, Publisher: Pharus Plan, 5th edition 2021, ISBN: 978-3-86514-142-2, Price: 5 €