From Oberspreewald to Unterspreewald

Length/duration: 21 kilometres (1 day)

Start: Lübben / Spreewald

Finish: Leibsch / Unterspreewald

How to get there:

• Public transport: Take the RE2 (Cottbus) from Berlin central station (Hauptbahnhof) to Lübben (approximately 1 hour).
• Car: From Berlin via the A13 and B115 to Lübben (approximately 1 hour).

Return journey:

• Public transport: From Leibsch, take bus 506 to Lübben. From here, take the RE2 (Wittenberge) to Berlin central station (Hauptbahnhof) (about 2 hours).
• Car: From Leibsch, take bus 506 to Lübben to return to your car (about 30 minutes).

Route: Lübben, Spree, Schlepzig, Quaaspree, Puhlstrom, Leibsch

Tour description: Lübben is the starting point of this canoe tour: it offers a wide range of leisure activities. The lido is directly on the Schlossinsel and is ideal for a refreshing swim, while the town centre is great for a stroll and the palace with its museum brings gives you insights into the history of the town and local region. From the Schlossinsel you can continue by canoe directly to the main River Spree (Hauptspree), where the River Berste crosses the Spree after a small bend in the latter (Spreebogen). Here you can stop off for your first break – for example at Gasthaus Lehnigksberg. Soon after this, the overflow channel also meets the Spree and the waterway then leads into the Hartmannsdorf weir. Here the current is quite strong, as is generally the case in the Unterspreewald. The section in particular runs through striking natural surroundings where you can enjoy the peace and quiet as well as spotting cormorants and coots. This bushland area partly belongs to the core zone of the biosphere reserve and has been a protected site since 1938, so it is one of the oldest nature reserves in the Spreewald. On the wetlands you will often see storks searching for food. After the self-service lock at the Hartmannsdorf weir, you can also enjoy several fish ponds and a bird sanctuary. Here, Gasthaus Petkamsberg is the perfect place for a break. The tour then continues to Schlepzig, one of the most beautiful villages in Brandenburg. There are several routes to the village, including the main River Spree (Hauptspree), and when you get there you will be impressed by the farm museum: here visitors are introduced to the traditional agricultural life of the Unterspreewald. If you want to find out more about the biosphere reserve, visit the tourist information centre in Schlepzig. The tour then continues to Leibsch, which can be reached either on the main River Spree (Hauptspree) through grazing lands with oak trees or via a detour along River Puhlstrom to the west of the Spree. The Puhlstrom is located amid one of the finest Unterspreewald forest areas, but it may only be accessed outside the breeding season from July onwards. Alternatively, the main River Spree (Hauptspree) can also be used during this time. The mixed forest becomes more and more rustic as the journey continues, offering a rich array of flora and fauna: cuckoos and buzzards can be spotted amid swampy meadows and solitary trees. You now reach Neu-Lübbenau, where the Puhlstrom and the main River Spree (Hauptspree) come together again. A narrow canal leads into the village, which was originally founded by Frederick William I. The tour now continues along the Spree itself, which is about two metres deep at this point with quite a fast current. Leibsch is the final destination of the canoe tour – a real paradise for anglers. At the weir there is a resting place where you can also stay the night.

On-shore outings:

• Lübben: Schlossinsel, palace, museum and Paul Gerhardt church
• Schlepzig: Museum of agricultural history, half-timbered church from 1782
• Leibsch: Open-air museum in a refurbished double weir 

Nautical information:

• Strong current at Hartmannsdorf weir – as is generally the case in Unterspreewald 
• Puhlstrom may only be used from July onwards outside the breeding period. Alternatively, the main River Spree (Hauptspree) can also be used during this time.
• At Neu-Lübbenau, where the Puhlstrom and the main River Spree (Hauptspree) meet again, a narrow channel leads into the village. The tour then continues along the Spree, which is about two metres at this point with quite a fast current.

Maps/Literature:

• "DKV-Gewässerführer für Ostdeutschland: Kanuführer für Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen und Sachsen (DKV-Regionalführer)", Deutscher Kanu-Verband; Auflage: 4 (1. April 2011), ISBN-13: 978-3937743288, Euro 19.95
• “TourenAtlas Wasserwandern / TA5 Berlin-Brandenburg mit Spreewald: Oder, Havel, Spree + Nebengewässer", 1:75.000 & 1:25.000, Verlag: Jübermann, Auflage: 5 (5. Juli 2013), ISBN-13: 978-3929540666, Euro 25
• "Kanu Kompakt Spreewald Mai 2014 - mit topografischen Wasserwanderkarten", Thomas Kettler Verlag, Auflage: 2. (5. Mai 2014), ISBN-13: 978-3934014282, Euro 9.95