Märkisch Luch: Nature, History and Village Culture

On the edge of Westhavelland Nature Park lies Garlitz, a district of the municipality of Märkisch Luch. Nature, outdoor activities and village history offer different reasons to visit. Buschow and Möthlow also have attractions for a day trip.

Woods, trails and wildlife watching in Garlitz

A mixed forest in Garlitz offers opportunities for hiking and cycling. Picking mushrooms is another option at the right time of year. Hiking and cycling are ideal for an active outing; if you want to pick mushrooms, plan your trip for the appropriate season.

Several running and Nordic walking routes have also been designated in Garlitz. The “Through the Havelländisches Luch” cycling route also passes through the village. The story trail offers a different focus: on a walk through Garlitz, 13 information boards present important events in the village’s history. This sets outdoor activity and local history side by side as distinct themes.

Great bustards can be observed from two observation towers on Pflaumenweg and Schwarzen Weg. Please follow the guidance on observation times and stay on the designated paths. Wildlife watching here comes with specific guidelines for visiting responsibly.

Village culture and architectural history

The playground, story trail and fitness trail in Garlitz are made of wood and share the same design. Their unified design brings together three different themes: play, village history and exercise.

Garlitz village church was consecrated on September 24, 1826, and features simple Neoclassical forms. The single-nave plastered building has a pulpit altar with a gallery; the sacristy is below it. The consecration date and architectural style give local history a tangible architectural expression here.

The Garlitzer Heimatkulturverein e.V. was founded in 2004 and is committed to the village community and the preservation of local culture. The association has staged children’s musicals and theater performances and organized historical lectures. It also established its own series, “Culture and Culinary Delights.” The KULTUR-BAR complements the association’s activities during the winter months. Together, architectural history and community initiatives offer distinct ways to explore village culture.

More places to visit in Märkisch Luch

Buschow is home to the Soechting family’s hunting museum. It contains more than 3,000 hunting trophies, around half of which can be viewed. The collection provides a distinct thematic focus alongside the local history and nature attractions in Garlitz.

A trip to the vineyard is recommended in Möthlow. This adds another reason to visit alongside the municipality’s nature and cultural attractions.

The wider Havelland destination

The wider Havelland destination offers a distinct regional perspective on wildlife watching and cycling. On the southern shore of Lake Gülper, an approximately 1.5-kilometer-long educational trail with illustrated information boards invites visitors to watch birds. During spring and fall migration, up to 100,000 geese and hundreds of cranes gather there, along with numerous waders, ducks and great egrets. This offers a different wildlife-watching focus from the great bustards at the towers in Garlitz.

For cycling trips, you can put together your own routes using the Havelland junction-signposted network. The Havelland Cycle Route runs through the Havelländisches Luch via Nauen, Ribbeck and Rathenow to Westhavelland Nature and Star Park. It is mostly paved, flat and pleasant to ride. These regional options are part of the wider Havelland experience, while the “Through the Havelländisches Luch” cycling route passes specifically through Garlitz.

Choose the focus of your stay

Consider which of these interests you want to shape your trip around, and use them to guide your search for accommodation in Märkisch Luch.

Discover more destinations: Premnitz, Wustermark, Kotzen, Ketzin, Semlin, Milower Land, Brieselang, Friesack.

Back to the main travel overview: Havelland.