Kladow – The Havel, lakes and history

Kladow lies amid the Havel and its lakes, cycling routes, parks and historic buildings. Wildlife watching and activities on the water sit alongside historic sites from different periods. If you are looking for accommodation in Kladow, the mix you want can be a useful starting point: Would you mainly like to cycle, spend time by the water or discover architectural history? The following routes, nature and cultural highlights offer specific ideas to help you decide.

Routes and parkland

The Dr. Max Fränkel Country Garden can be reached via the Havel Riverside Walking Trail, which connects to the EuroVelo route network. Another cycling link is the Havel Cycle Route: it runs through Neukladow Estate Park and connects it to the network of long-distance cycling routes. The two routes offer different experiences: one gives access to the garden via a walking trail, while the other runs through the park as a cycle route.

The listed Neukladow Manor House is set in a landscape park covering just under 20 hectares, directly on the Havel. The estate park therefore combines a direct link to a cycling route with a historic building in the Havel landscape. Visitors interested in parks will find not only a large green space here, but also a direct connection to the river; the country garden can be reached via its own route, the Havel Riverside Walking Trail.

Water and wildlife watching

Kladow is set amid the Havel and its lakes. In summer, swimming in Lake Groß-Glienicke is one possible activity. Fishing, sailing, paddling and rowing offer other ways to spend time by or on the water.

Visitors are not allowed on Imchen Island. The BVG ferry route passes right by it, and the grey heron and cormorant breeding colonies can be seen from the ferry. Their visibility depends on the season. This lets you take both a clear access restriction and an opportunity to watch wildlife from the water into account when planning your visit.

BVG ferry line F10 connects S Wannsee with Alt-Kladow. The average journey time between the stops is 20 minutes. Check the current timetable before travelling so you can plan around the departure times in effect.

Architectural history in Kladow

The village church of Kladow in Alt-Kladow is a listed building dating from 1818–1819. The protected site also includes the churchyard wall, churchyard and village square. Kladow’s Finnish housing estate represents Finland’s contribution to reconstruction after 1945. Another listed building, the Church of the Good Shepherd with its thatched roof, dates from 1951–1953.

The dates reveal different historical connections: from the early 19th-century village church, through reconstruction after 1945, to the thatched church of the 1950s. The village church complex also differs from the other two examples in its explicitly named components: the church, churchyard wall, churchyard and village square. For anyone interested in culture, this means there is more to discover than individual buildings: the connections between the site, settlement and period of construction also offer a sense of place.

Planning your trip around your interests

When looking for accommodation, you can use these differences as a first filter: cycling routes and parkland offer a focus on outdoor activity; the lake and ferry-based wildlife watching, on water and nature; and the housing estate and churches, on architectural history. Consider which of these aspects you want to shape your stay, then use it to guide your search.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rudow, Zehlendorf, Schmöckwitz, Altglienicke, Steglitz, Rahnsdorf, Tiergarten, Pankow.

Go to the main travel overview: Berlin.