Nuthetal: Heath, Sand and Village Churches

Nuthetal combines the open landscape of the Saarmunder Heath with a history brought to life through village churches and a museum. This offers a range of options for planning your trip: you can focus on hiking landscapes, summer swimming, or architectural and collection history. The combination of natural features and different historical periods makes Nuthetal an engaging destination to explore.

Sand, heathland and rare habitats

On a hike through the Saarmunder Heath, broad sandy areas alternate with silver-grass communities and heather. The Saarmunder Berg FFH area features heather, dry grasslands rich in silver grass, and open sandy areas that are rare across Europe. The two locations offer different highlights: on the hike, the changing landscape shapes the route; in the FFH area, the habitats’ rarity across Europe is especially significant. Nature enthusiasts will find both a distinct sequence of landscapes and the special character of rare habitats to explore here.

Village churches with distinctive architectural histories

The architectural history can also be traced through different periods. The half-timbered church in Bergholz-Rehbrücke dates from 1716 and is the village’s oldest building. The church in Nudow was built in 1733/34 at the behest of the Prussian King Frederick William I as one of Brandenburg’s few “crown churches”; the pulpit, parts of the gallery and the pews date from the original construction. In Saarmund, the present-day church was built between 1846 and 1848: Friedrich August Stüler constructed it based on plans by his predecessor, Ludwig Persius. These three building histories offer different points of interest: the age of a village building, a royal commission with surviving original furnishings, and the realization of a design by the original architect’s successor.

The Oldtimer Museum in Bergholz-Rehbrücke offers a different cultural highlight. Its oldest models are two penny-farthings from the late 19th century. This specific collection detail complements the architectural history with a glimpse of early vehicle models. Exploring Nuthetal according to your own interests, you can choose between landscapes, historic churches and collection themes, rather than focusing on just one side of the area.

Swimming, walking and aviation history

The “Kieskuten” are a popular swimming spot in summer and a year-round destination for walkers. If you would like to swim there, check current access arrangements on site. This makes for a seasonal swimming option alongside a year-round walking destination. Another story leads to the Saarmunder Berge: a glider airfield was established there in the 1920s and was used by model aircraft enthusiasts as well as glider and hang-glider pilots. This chapter adds a historic use of the hills to the area’s natural and local history.

More to explore in the wider destination of Potsdam-Mittelmark

The wider destination of Potsdam-Mittelmark also offers its own themes that may help you choose the focus of your holiday. Above Bad Belzig stands Eisenhardt Castle, a cultural landmark where visitors can experience the Middle Ages firsthand. In the Middle Ages, Ziesar Castle was an important episcopal residence; its well-preserved architecture offers insight into the religious and political history of Potsdam-Mittelmark. Wiesenburg Palace offers a different highlight: it is a Renaissance masterpiece surrounded by a landscaped park.

In Reckahn, Reckahn Palace is dedicated to the life and work of the Prussian reformer Friedrich Eberhard von Rochow. The permanent exhibition “Reason for the People” has been on display there since 2001. Nature and outdoor activities round out the regional selection: the treetop path in the forest park at Beelitz-Heilstätten is an elevated trail almost one kilometre long, passing through species-rich mixed woodland and the historic buildings of the former A Quadrant. The EuroVelo Route R1 runs through picturesque landscapes and historic towns in Potsdam-Mittelmark. The wider destination therefore offers a range of interests, from architectural history to woodland and cycling, while keeping these regional examples distinct from Nuthetal’s local features.

Discover more destinations: Glindow, Linthe, Roskow, Ziesar, Wusterwitz, Gollwitz, Groß Kreutz, Teltow.

View the wider travel overview: Potsdam-Mittelmark.