Oderbruch Railway Cycle Route - Seelow to Wriezen

Where the old Oderbruchbahn railway ran over 100 years ago, today you can cycle off the beaten track through the wide open countryside. Following the former railway line, you glide carefree through the Oderbruch and discover idyllic villages, quiet moments of nature and surprising cultural heritage sites. The day's stage from Seelow to Wriezen is an invitation to immerse yourself in this world on a particularly charming section of the 140-kilometre route. 

Start / finish: Seelow railway station / Wriezen railway station

Length / duration: 72 kilometres / approx. 5 hours

Logo / route sign: White bicycle on a yellow background, with blue and white tracks on a green background underneath.

Character: Moderate, slightly longer day trip through the wide landscape of the Oderbruch. Thanks to the flat profile, it is easy to cycle along well-developed cycle paths and quiet side roads, always following the course of the former Oderbruch railway line, with some sections directly on the old railway embankment.

Route: Seelow, Friedersdorf, Golzow, Zechin, Kienitz, Groß Neuendorf, Ortwig, Neulewin, Wriezen

Extra tip: Every year on the weekend after Ascension Day, the ‘Kunst-Loose-Tage’ (Art Open Days) take place. Artists based in the Oderbruch open their studios and courtyards to visitors – an ideal opportunity to discover the creative side of the region on a bike tour.

Arrival / departure:

Public transport: 

• 
  Arrival: To Seelow RB 60
• 
  Departure: From Wriezen RB 60

Directions

The Oderbruch Railway

Construction of the Oderbruch Railway began in 1901. Soon, the first trains were rattling between Fürstenwalde/Spree and Müncheberg, and later through the entire Oderbruch region to Wriezen. The rail network was mainly used to transport agricultural products such as sugar beet and vegetables, as well as products from local factories and distilleries, to Berlin. The railway remained in operation until the mid-1990s.

Down into the Bruch

The tour starts in Seelow and heads south. The Friedersdorf art warehouse is a striking destination. The largest preserved granary in the region has been converted into a cultural meeting place and now houses exhibitions, a shop and a restaurant.

Following the route along the old railway line, you reach the edge of the slope that marks the transition from the Lebus plateau to the Oderbruch plain. The route descends energetically, past the Mallnow slopes nature reserve. The species-rich meadows were created by centuries of grazing and are impressive in spring when rare pheasant's eye flowers bloom. From the rest area at the Osterquelle spring, there are sweeping views over the marsh.

The Children of Golzow

On the way to Golzow, the route passes through small, idyllic villages. The village is inextricably linked to the film project ‘The Children of Golzow’, which is documented in the local museum. Starting in 1961, the long-term documentary accompanied a school class through 45 years of their lives in the GDR and after reunification. The Oderbruchbahn railway can also be seen in one scene. The original editing room with film reels and DEFA posters provides an insight into the work of the filmmakers.

Very close to the great Oder River

Lined with hedges, the path runs along the old railway embankment. At the port of Kienitz, the route running parallel to the Oder is clearly visible. For a break, visit the traditional Gasthof Kienitz inn right at the harbour or the café in the Radwegekirche church, which serves homemade cakes in a special atmosphere. Groß Neuendorf is approaching. The ensemble of warehouses, machine house and loading tower tells of the former transhipment of goods between the harbour and the railway. Today, the renovated cultural harbour houses a hotel, holiday apartments and historic railway carriages. The conveyor bridge serves as a viewing platform with a wide view over the Oder. The village is one of the cultural heritage sites of the Oderbruch, which was the first cultural landscape to be awarded the European Cultural Heritage Seal.

Tip: a short detour leads to the ‘Haerlem View’. Information boards commemorate Oberdeichinspektor von Haerlem and the drainage of the Oderbruch in the 18th century.

The traces of the colonists

On the Oder dyke, the trail leads through the wide river valley, an important bird sanctuary. Thousands of geese rest here, especially in spring and autumn. A simple bench offers a quiet view of the Polish shore.

The last stage turns away from the river and leads past the church ruins of Ortwig to the heritage of the colonists. In Neulewin, the foundation stone and local history museum commemorate the hardships endured by the first settlers. The circle closes along the Güstebieser Alte Oder before the tour ends in Wriezen – once the ‘gateway to the Oderbruch’ and the northern terminus of the former railway line.

Sights:

• Near Seelow: Friedersdorf art warehouse
• Friedersdorf: Osterquelle spring
• Golzow: ‘Kinder von Golzow’ film museum
• Kientz: Kienitz cycle path church
• Groß Neuendorf: Groß Neuendorf cultural harbour
• Neulewin: Founding stone and Neulewin local history museum
• Wriezen: St. Mary's Church, Wriezen

Refreshment tips:

• Seelow: Naturkost Nußschale
• Friedersdorf: Kunstspeicher
• Golzow: Gasthaus Wagner
• Kienitz: Gasthof Zum Hafen, Café Himmel und Erde
• Groß Neuendorf: Turmcafé im Verladeturm
• Altlewin: Gasthof zum Alten Fritz
• Wriezen: Ristorante Juani

Local information:

• Tourist Information ‘Oderbruch und Lebuser Land’ e.V. in Seelow

Maps/literature:

• Cycling brochure ‘Your bike. Your break. Your flow.’, Online shop Seenland Oder-Spree (available in German and Polish)