Kranichradtour, cycling tour

Germany’s only wetlands national park Lower Oder Valley is a resting place for cranes. Cyclists can also enjoy amazing views of the landscape along the cycling tour. Various observation towers allow for bird watching and expansive views of the countryside.

Length: 87 km (7 h)

Start/finish: Bahnhof Schwedt (Oder) train station / alternatively Tantow train station

Logo/route sign: Not specified

How to get there/return journey:by train: From Berlin regional express train RE 3 to Schwedt/Oder, Regional train RB 66 (stations: Schönow, Casekow, Petershagen, Tantow)It cannot be guaranteed that multiple bicycles can be transported on the bus or train. For further information, please contact the transport organisation VBB Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg. Bicycle transport in the Uckermark Shuttle is only possible at the weekend.by car: From Berlin via the A11, B198 and B2 via Angermünde to Schwedt (about 1.5 hours).Route: Schwedt, Gatow, Gartz, Mescherin, Tantow, Casekow, Blumberg, Blumenhagen, Gatow, Schwedt

How to get there: You can start cycling the Crane Spotting Tour in Gatow, for example. From here you can go on to the little tobacco town Vierraden (1 kilometre). On minor roads you ride on towards Blumenhagen (6 kilometres), Hohenfelde (9 kilometres), Kunow (11 kilometres) and Niederfelde (13 kilometres). Views of a hilly panorama and vast landscapes alternate on this quiet stretch of the route. Just a few kilometres after the town exit sign of Niederfelde, you turn left to take a pleasant route among fields and forest towards Kummerow (17.5 kilometres). This part of the tour is characterised by lush meadows and trees.

A narrow country lane and a relatively quiet main road will take you past Jamikow (20.5 kilometres) and on to Schönow (22.5 kilometres). The village’s appearance is dominated by granite structures, such as the several metres long wall intended to protect the castle. Your efforts on the hilly section to Blumberg (25 kilometres) are rewarded with the beautiful local church.

You ride on past Casekow (28.5 kilometres) and to Luckow (30 kilometres) along a path lined with apple trees. Mühlenberg with its hilltop post mill that is open for visitors can be seen from afar. You now go downhill to Petershagen (33 kilometres) and on to Schönfeld (37 kilometres) on quiet roads. You are most likely to spot cranes in the fields to the right of the path. Once you have reached Schönfeld, go towards the main road 113 to get to Tantow (42 kilometres), where the Lower Oder Valley Nation Park begins.

Travelling on towards Neurochlitz, you will reach Staffelde (49 kilometres), where a burial mound has been recreated. The narrow road runs parallel to the railway track at first, and then through the fields. The hilly landscape is dotted with plum trees. From Staffelde you cycle through a cobbled linden tree avenue towards Mescherin (51.5 kilometres). This is also a good base for visits to Poland, such as a cycling trip to Greifenhagen (Gryfino) or a city tour to Stettin (Szczecin). The Oder hills of the surrounding area give way to great views of the river valleys. On the Oder-Neiße Cycle Path you now go on to the farmers’ town Gartz (Oder) and to Friedrichsthal (64 kilometres). From here the route meanders through a pine forest towards the national park wilderness school Teerofenbrücke and along the Hohensaaten-Friedrichsthaler waterway, and finally back to Gatow (74 kilometres).

Tip: Early risers can often watch the cranes dancing along the Crane Spotting Tour. Various viewpoints on the Oder hills and observation towers along the Lower Oder Valley National Park allow for a great overview of the landscape.

Sights along the bicycle tour:Vierraden: Tabakmuseum (tobacco museum), the hunger tower with remains of Vierraden’s castle complex, tobacco barns, cruciform church (18th century)Kunow: Village church, manor complexSchönow: Castle and manor house, granite buildingsBlumberg: Village church with a 45 metre high tower, parkCasekow: Village churchPetershagen: Fairy tale park by the castle, farmers’ gardenLuckow: Post-mill with exhibitionGeesow (about 3 kilometres from the route): Mühlenmuseum Salveymühle (mill museum) with functional driveMescherin: Border crossing point allowing for a visit to Poland (Greifenhagen is about 5 kilometres away, Stettin about 20 kilometres)Teerofenbrücke: Wildnisschule Teerofenbrücke, nature trailSchwedt/Oder(about 4 kilometres from the route): Erlebnisbad AquariUM (swimming pool), Uckermärkische Bühnen, Berlischky-Pavillon (cultural venues), Hugenottenpark(former castle grounds, redesigned based on Lenné’s vision), Stadtmuseum (town museum)Groß Pinnow: Landhof deutsch/polnische Arche (German-Polish education and meeting centre)Gartz (Oder): Ackerbürgermuseum (farmers’ museum), St Stephan’s Church, town wall with gates, former church of the Holy Ghost HospitalRosow: Memorial churchTrail conditions: The cycling route is mostly along quiet country lanes and in part on paved paths. From Mescherin to Gatow, the route of the Crane Spotting Tour follows the paved dyke of the Oder-Neiße Cycle Path.

Connections to other cycle routes:Uckermark CircularCycle RouteOder-Neiße Cycle PathRecommended map: Topographische Freizeitkarte "Nationalpark Unteres Odertal" 1:50,000
ADFC-Regionalkarte Uckermark, 1:75,000, Bielefelder Verlag, 1st edition (April 6, 2016), ISBN: 978-3-87073-745-0, Euro 8.95