Märkische Schweiz Nature Park Route walking tour - Discovery Tour

The Märkische Schweiz nature park is the smallest and (as of 1990) oldest in the State of Brandenburg. Its symbol is a dragonfly, the common clubtail, one of many species that populate this diverse landscape, with its little lakes, pools and ponds, narrow passes and steep slopes with dry grasslands. It also provides a habitat for around 250 species of birds, including black storks and sea eagles, and for beavers, otters and lots of midges. The main town is Buckow, Brandenburg’s only recognised Kneipp spa town. The town’s name probably comes from the Slavonic, derived from Buchenaue (beech meadow). “Just mentioning the name conjures up beautiful images of the landscape: Hills and lakes, pine-covered slopes and ravines filled with deciduous forests, springs splashing across stones,” is how the description of the town in Fontane’s “Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg” (Walks through Mark Brandenburg) begins. The Märkische Schweiz region is a little natural treasure left behind by the last Ice Age. Embedded in the hilly landscape of the terminal moraines, the landscape is defined by lots of small lakes and ponds, in addition to the large Lake Schermützelsee. As a link between them, you can walk by countless pools that create a feeling of being in the Everglades.

The nature park route through the Märkische Schweiz was named one of the 10 most beautiful routes in Germany by the “Wanderbares Deutschland” Federation in 2014.

Length: 20 kilometres (6 to 7 hours)

Start/finish: Buckow

Logo/route sign: Red dot on a white background

How to get there:

• Public transport: From Berlin central station (Hauptbahnhof) take the regional train S7 to Berlin Lichtenberg. From here, take the regional train RB26 (Kostrzyn) to Müncheberg and continue by the 928 bus (Bollersdorf) to Buckow (around 1 hour 20 minutes).
• Car: From Berlin along the A114, A10, B158 and the B168 to Buckow (around 1 hour 20 minutes)

Route: Buckow, Großer Däbersee, Waldsieversdorf, Schermützelsee, Buckow

Route description: Coming out of Buckow, before the bridge, follow the signposted path to the right. The route leads past allotments along to the Brecht School. A broad forest path that is easy to walk on passes through silent beech forest. After a little pool, the route turns right to the Günter Spring. After this, a path winds through on the right of the road to Pritzhagen along the River Stobber – a true lagoon landscape, with only the crocodiles missing. Soon we reach Große Tornowsee lake. Here, the route leads to the Bat Museum. It continues to the right. The “Drei Eichen” section leads into the hills of the moraines and on through. The surface of the path is often local sand. The school children who passed along the Old School Path from Drei Eichen to Buckow perhaps didn’t think so, but they were lucky to have this path through the forests and meadows. The section after crossing the cycle path, past the Schwarzer See (black lake) to the Krumme Pfuhl pond near Waldsiefersdorf is easy to walk on. One of the highlights is the bank with its view towards Buckow Stadium. The Schwarzer See lake is difficult to access. The Krumme Pfuhl pond hides mysteriously behind dense shrubbery. After crossing the railway line, there is a part on a cycle path, and then follows a beautiful section along the Pappillensee/Kleiner Däbersee lakes. A little later, the route continues by Großer Däbersee lake. A side path leads off on the left to the Schwedenschanze, a Slavic hill-fort. There are stunning views across the water, mostly with banks. On the “Himmelsleiter”, the path goes up to the water tower and then through the village streets to the cemetery. A lovely forest path starts again here. After crossing the road between Waldsieversdorf and Buckow, you will come to the panoramic trail, with a magnificent view – and then the going gets tougher, and we can see that the name of Schweiz (Switzerland) is well deserved. After the street “Am Fischerberg” stunning paths go steadily up and down across Lake Schermützelsee from one viewpoint to another. And now it’s not far to the finishing point by the parking area.

Underfoot conditions/surface: Not specified

Maps/Literature: "Seenland Oder-Spree Nordteil (Landkreis Märkisch Oderland): Fahrrad- und Erlebniskarte", scale 1 : 75,000 / 1 : 175,000 Landkarte Folded Map, Verlag: Pietruska; Auflage: 3 (22. November 2011), ?ISBN-10: 3934895824, Euro 6.90