Discover Wriezen: City History, Stork Tower and Cycling Routes
Accommodation in Wriezen
Wriezen’s history brings together its former fish market in the Oderbruch with Rathsdorf’s brick heritage, as well as knowledge about storks, contemporary art and cycling routes. When planning your trip, the main question is whether you would like to focus on history, culture or active excursions. The sites and activities each have a different focus.
Fish Market History and the Cityscape
Until the Oderbruch was drained in the 18th century, Wriezen was considered its principal town, with the largest fish market in the Mark Brandenburg. The devil figure by sculptor Horst Engelhardt on the market fountain recalls the city’s heyday, shaped by the fish trade and agriculture. This artwork thus brings together a familiar feature of the cityscape and a piece of Wriezen’s economic history.
The late Gothic Catholic Church of St. Mary is a historic building in Wriezen. The “Views of Wriezen” discovery trail offers a broader look at the city’s cultural, economic and historical connections, with 12 stops. If you would like to explore several of these themes together, the trail offers a distinct way to do so.
Stork Information and Brick Heritage in Rathsdorf
The Stork Tower stands in Rathsdorf, a district of Wriezen. It is the last of the Märkisch brick kilns that were once widespread. Since 1978/79, the historic building has housed a small museum about the white stork. The adjoining stork education trail provides information about the white stork through numerous questions and answers. The museum and trail offer different focuses in the same place: the museum inside the tower and educational information on the neighbouring trail.
The Stork Tower is a popular destination for walkers, cyclists, families, and daycare and school groups. There is a car park opposite the tower, making it possible to travel there by car. The car park’s location is a useful point of reference if you plan to drive to Rathsdorf.
Art, Cycling Routes and Seasonal Excursions
Villa Blunk at Berliner Berg 4 in Wriezen is a venue for contemporary art and culture. Together with the late Gothic town church and the historic market fountain, it shows that the city’s cultural themes encompass both the present and the past. A stay can therefore range in focus from architecture and the cityscape to contemporary art.
The Oderbruch Railway Cycle Route follows the former railway line between FĂĽrstenwalde/Spree and Wriezen. The route runs mostly along developed, paved cycle paths, as well as short stretches on forest tracks and low-traffic roads. Its course along a former railway line and its varied surfaces are practical features to consider when planning your ride.
The usual seasonal period for Waldbad Wriezen is 15 May to 15 September, with opening hours from 10 am to 6 pm, except Mondays and Tuesdays. Opening hours may be extended or shortened depending on the weather; check the current times before your visit. For travel by train, regional line RB60 connects Eberswalde with Frankfurt (Oder) via Wriezen and Seelow (Mark). If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable for your travel date.
More Places to Explore in Märkisch-Oderland
The wider destination of Märkisch-Oderland offers additional, distinct cultural and nature-focused activities. The Brecht-Weigel House in Buckow has been a museum since 1977. Its year-round programme includes readings, concerts, talks, discussions, films, exhibitions and special guided tours; individual offerings vary.
In Märkische Schweiz, you can explore the 17 km-long Natura Trail and the certified Märkische Schweiz Nature Park Route, which is just under 21 km long. The different route lengths offer a practical comparison for planning your own tour. Check trail conditions locally if you are considering either route.
Discover more destinations: Waldsieversdorf, Prötzel, Diedersdorf, Heckelberg-Brunow, Reichenow-Möglin, Werder, Höhenland, Görlsdorf.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Märkisch-Oderland.
