Havel bei Strodehne, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Rainer Weisflog

Havelland - your holiday region

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Tourismusverband Havelland e.V.
Theodor-Fontane-Straße 10
14641 Nauen OT Ribbeck

Tel.: +49 33237 85 90 30

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Havelland Land by the river

Havelland is a beautiful region in the west of Brandenburg - just outside Berlin - and a real insider tip for anyone looking for nature, culture and rural idyll. The area is characterised by wide river landscapes, historic towns and a deep connection to German literary and art history. In many spots, the Havel River resembles a scenic lakeland. Everywhere, rafts, house boats or canoes are gliding through the water.
Did you know that the Cathedral Island of the city of Brandenburg an der Havel is the oldest settlement centre and can look back on over 1000 years of history? And Germany's first star-gazing park offers an El Dorado for hobby astronomers because nowhere else but here is the sky so pitch-black at night.

Let's go! We show you how to spend the perfect day in the Havelland, give you tips and recommendations surrounding your vacation and reveal the best highlights you don't want to miss.

Paradise for nature lovers, fans of aquatic sports and skippers

In the Havelland, the Havel connects Berlin with Potsdam and Brandenburg an der Havel. The river course is distinguished by its large chains of lakes, vast meanders and islands. An ideal territory for aquatic sports: Here, anglers, yachtsmen, rowers and canoeists can find the perfect water conditions.

Charming waterside palaces and gardens of Prussian heritage are found in Potsdam and Caputh. Alongside the Havel River, there is also a cycling path offering fantastic views of this extraordinary lake paradise around Potsdam and Brandenburg. The path leads you to the former training ground of flight pioneer Otto Lilienthal who made his first flight attempts in Stölln. Here is where you can visit the IL62 Interflug aircraft (called Lady Agnes), rebuilt to house a museum and learn about Otto Lilienthal. A stopover here is really worthwhile!

Further north, by the riverside landscape of the “Untere Havelniederung”, the Havel River flows through mostly pristine stretches of the Westhavelland Nature Park and branches out into many tributaries. In autumn, the Westhavelland Nature Park turns into a roosting spot for tens of thousands of migratory birds.

Mit dem Boot unterwegs in Brandenburg an der Havel, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

Hausboot auf der Havel bei Milow, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Yorck Maecke

Stand Up Paddeling auf der Havel, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

Mit dem Boot unterwegs in Brandenburg an der Havel, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

Hausboot auf der Havel bei Milow, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Yorck Maecke
Stand Up Paddeling auf der Havel, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

On a discovery journey like Fontane

Theodor Fontane, an important german poet, used to take pleasure in his encounters with the people and the history of the land and recounted them in his “Wanderings”. Charming palaces and gardens like Caputh and Paretz can be found in the immediate surroundings of the federal capital Potsdam.

Located right at the “Havelland-Radweg” cycling path (not to be confused with the “Havelradweg”) is the quaint village of Ribbeck, which has gained fame for many generations all over the world since Fontane’s poem. Follow the traces of the pear everywhere in the village and savour culinary delights such as the legendary pear cake at the Alte Waschhaus.

Schloss Petzow, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

Schloss Paretz, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Leo Seidel

Altes Waschhaus Ribbeck, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

Schloss Petzow, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

Schloss Paretz, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Leo Seidel
Altes Waschhaus Ribbeck, Picture: TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH/Steffen Lehmann

Twinkling stars in the Westhavelland Star Park

It is dark here, so you can see a fantastic night sky. When do you ever see the Milky Way or the Big Dipper in a big city? The probability is close to zero. The chances are better in Westhavelland. In 2013, the region around Rathenow was recognised as the first German star park. Astronomers here measure values that are otherwise only known from Chile or Namibia. And it's just under an hour away from Berlin!