Discover Birkenwerder

Birkenwerder combines local history with nature experiences by the water and trails in the Briesetal. The Briese flows through the town, forms the Briesetal and empties into the Havel. You can choose different focuses for your stay: hiking trails through wetlands, cycling tours, summer swimming or historic sites.

Briesetal: Trails through wet habitats

In the Briesetal, a trail passes alder carrs, meadows, young plantations and wetland habitats. Numerous rare shrubs, mosses and ferns, as well as various orchids, grow in the marshy ground; the landscape is surrounded by dense broadleaf and coniferous forest. A boardwalk crosses the Briese through a wetland habitat, giving hikers a dry footing. A hiking trail also runs between the district of Briese and the motorway bridge, and is part of the Berlin–Copenhagen long-distance cycle route.

A hiking route of about 2.5 kilometres leads from the Briesetal Forest School southeast back to Birkenwerder S-Bahn station. You can plan to use the station as the endpoint of your route. Check access and signage before setting out.

Nature experiences and activities

The grounds of the Briesetal Forest School cover around 4,400 m² and are laid out as a nature garden with heathland, a pond, an inland dune and a bog. Among other things, the forest school features a forest diorama with taxidermied specimens of native species. Its changing programme of events includes nature walks, slide shows, mushroom advice, campfire story evenings and family craft afternoons. If you have a particular event in mind, check the dates in advance.

In the district of Briese, the newly renovated beach on Lake Briesesee invites visitors to swim in summer. Check beach conditions if you are planning a swimming day. Before travelling, check whether the option you want is available. The climbing park is considered especially popular with families.

Village church and local history

The Protestant village church was built by Friedrich August Stüler in 1847–1849. Together with the school and the former rectory, it is a listed monument; the rectory is now used as a community centre. All three buildings were built using Birkenwerder clinker bricks—a distinctive detail of local architectural history.

The Birkenwerder History Room is located at the Clara Zetkin Memorial, Summter Straße 4, 16547 Birkenwerder, and can be visited by telephone appointment. On display there is a living-room cabinet made at the former local furniture factory “Heim und Gerken”. The Clara Zetkin Museum probably displays the last personal belongings of the socialist and women’s rights activist Clara Zetkin.

Plan your journey and accommodation

Birkenwerder can be reached on S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 from Berlin or Oranienburg, and on regional train R20 from Potsdam and Hennigsdorf. The station was inaugurated at its current location in 1924. Check current timetables before travelling.

The Berlin–Copenhagen long-distance cycle route passes through Birkenwerder. The municipality lists it and the Havel Cycle Route as suitable options for day trips from Birkenwerder.

Discover more destinations: Liebenberg, Oberkrämer, Stechlin, Amalienfelde, Schönermark, Zehlendorf, Sonnenberg, Wesendorf.

Return to the main travel overview: Oberhavel.