8th stage "Fontanewanderweg" section from Motzen to Mittenwalde

The trail leads along a quiet and attractive path from Motzen, situated on the lake of the same name, to the small town of Mittenwalde. In Motzen the Haus des Gastes informs visitors about the town, the church in the town centre with its more than 250-year-old bell elm as well as the mulberry trees in front of it, and about accommodation possibilities. Special leisure activities here include golf and draisine rides.

In Mittenwalde, the historic medieval town centre with St. Moritz church, Salzmarkt and the town gate in particular are also worth visiting. History comes alive in the church and the local history museum. From 1651 to 1657 Paul Gerhardt, Germany's most famous hymn writer, worked here.

Also here was poet and writer Theodor Fontane – as can be read in the chapter on Mittenwalde in his book "Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg" ("Walks through the March of Brandenburg"). "In general, one may ask: Who travels to Mittenwalde? No-one. And yet it is a place worth seeing and entering into behind its walls," writes Fontane. In one section he also writes about St. Moritz church.

This hiking section of the Fontane hiking trail crosses the E10 European Long-distance Hiking Trail in Motzen. 

Length: approximately 11 kilometres, walking time: approximately 2.5 hours

Marking of the route

red crossbar on a white background

Route

Motzen, Fontaneklinik bus stop - right into Töpchiner Strasse - Karl-Marx-Strasse - church with the bell elm and old mulberry trees - (access to Lake Motzen) - Haus des Gastes Motzen - Mittenwalder Strasse - right at Birkenwäldchen - Am Tonsee - left at Am Tonsee - shortly before Mittenwalder Strasse right onto the (forest) path - keep left on the A13 - left onto the (forest) path to Gallun - left into Storkower Strasse - right into Mittenwalder Chaussee - B 246 - right onto the path - left at the crossing - over the Königsgraben - along the draisine line - right into Schenkendorfer Chaussee - continue on Rathauschaussee - arrive at the fire station.

Mittenwalde detour: from Rathauschaussee - turn left at Yorckstrasse - Mittenwalde, Sparkasse bus stop - detour to Salzmarkt with the local history museum/church. From Mittenwalde alternatively head to Zossen or along the Notte Canal to Königs Wusterhausen

Points of interest along the route

• Motzen with the post milestone
• Old bell elm and mulberry trees
• Motzen lido
• Motzen golf course
• Haus des Gastes Motzen (tourist information centre and local history museum)
• Historic town centre of Mittenwalde with St. Moritz church
• Paul Gerhardt Memorial
• Town gate and Pulverturm
• Salzmarkt
• Local history museum and Yorck House

Arrival by public transport

• Motzen bus stop "Fontaneklinik": Bus
• Mittenwalde bus stop "Sparkasse": Bus

Recommended maps

• "Fontanewanderweg", Flyer, Tourismusverband Dahme-Seenland e.V.
• "Dahme-Seengebiet - Topographische Freizeitkarte 1:25.000 im Sonderblattschnitt mit Wanderwegen", ISBN 978-3-7490-4078-0, Landesvermessung und Geobasisinformation Brandenburg, Euro 7