Discover Brieskow-Finkenheerd

Brieskow-Finkenheerd combines the waterscape of Lake Brieskow with a route along the historic Friedrich Wilhelm Canal and several art venues. Nature watching, waterside trails and culture are all on offer. When planning your trip, you can choose between a stay focused on the lake and landscape, a hike, or visits to artists and a garden.

Lake, Oder and floodplain landscape

Lake Brieskow is a tributary lake directly connected to the Oder. It is around 3 kilometres long and covers 54 hectares, stretching from its mouth near Lossow to the municipality of Brieskow-Finkenheerd. It is between 150 and 250 metres wide; its average depth is around 1 to 3 metres and varies with the water level of the Oder.

Nearby, in Aurith, lies the Ziltendorf Lowland, a floodplain landscape between the Oder and the Oder–Spree Canal. It offers opportunities for birdwatching throughout the year. This adds another nature experience to the waterscape around the lake: views of a floodplain and its birdlife.

There is also a historic finish-line judges’ tower at Lake Brieskow. A nature conservation rule applies on the west bank: fishing is prohibited from the northern edge of the metal sheet-pile wall up to the level of the judges’ tower. Check the local notices before fishing.

Hike along the canal and canoe trip to Lebus

A hiking route runs from Brieskow-Finkenheerd towards Wiesenau along the Friedrich Wilhelm Canal to the former lock keeper’s cottage. The canal was completed in 1668 under the Great Elector, Frederick William. The route therefore combines a waterside walk with a former lock keeper’s cottage as its destination.

A 20-kilometre canoe trip starts at Lake Brieskow near Lossow and leads to Lebus. It offers a different focus from the hike: one route follows the canal on foot towards Wiesenau, while the other goes by canoe to Lebus.

Art venues and garden visit

At Olaf Hannemann’s studio, you can admire metalwork, sculptures, metal garden art, wind chimes and lamps. If you are specifically interested in metal design, the studio is a good place to start; arrange your visit with the workshop in advance.

Visitors can view works by the artist at Atelier TG542; arrange your visit with the studio in advance. The Linden Gallery presents works by Marit Tantarn, combining painting and ceramics. The artistic approaches therefore differ distinctly: metalwork contrasts with the combined techniques of painting and ceramics.

A 45-minute garden tour is available by appointment at the Japanese Garden World. Arrange your visit directly with the provider.

Plan your stay

When choosing accommodation, it helps to first decide what kind of stay you want: your plans could focus on the waterscape and birdwatching, a hike with a historic destination, the canoe trip to Lebus, or visits to artists and the garden. The routes differ in how you travel and where they lead; visits to the garden and studios need to be arranged in advance. You can then tailor your accommodation search to the experiences you want to include.

Discover more destinations: Grunow, Herzberg, Briesen, Rietz-Neuendorf, Müllrose, Wendisch Rietz, Steinhöfel, Berkenbrück.

For the higher-level travel overview: Oder-Spree.