Spreewald

The Spreewald (Spree Forest) includes low-lying areas in which the river Spree meanders in thousands of small waterways through meadows and forests. It is a beautiful, unique landscape about one hour south of Berlin and well worth a day trip or a weekend trip to relax from the buzzing city life.
Besides its beautiful nature, the Spreewald is home to one of the two recognized minorities in Germany, the Sorbs with their unique culture. Many old, traditional farmhouses along the waterways offer beautiful sights.

History

It has been a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1991.

Landscape

Forested low moor landscape with 1,300 km of irrigation channels.

Flora and fauna

Broad leafed forest, mainly Alder on wetlands, with pine on sandy dry areas.

Climate

Most people only speak German (at least the standard variation without major accents). Some younger people understand and speak English, some older people might still remember a few words of Russian. Some people may still speak Low Geman dialect and Sorbian is still spoken in the south of Brandenburg.

• The main entry points to the Spreewald are Lübben, Lübbenau and Burg (Spreewald). Lübben and Lübbenau are pretty touristy but can be reached directly by train. Burg (Spreewald) is more quiet and more beautiful if you are interested in nature and canoeing. However, the latter can only be reached by car.
• By car from Berlin: Follow the A113 south out of the city. At "Schönefelder Kreuz", continue south on the highway A13 to Dresden. Leave the A13 at the exits Lübben or Lübbenau or continue to the "Dreieck Spreewald" (junction of highways A13 and A15) and then on the A15 towards "Vetschau". Leave the A15 at the exit "Vetschau" and continue to Burg(Spreewald).
• By train from Berlin: Take the hourly regional train RE2 from Zoologischer Garten, Hauptbahnhof, Friedrichstraße, Alexanderplatz or Ostkreuz to Lübben or Lübbenau. Some of the hotels in Burg (Spreewald) offer a pick-up service from the Vetschau railway station when you book in advance.

Get around on your feet, on a cycle or by boat. Not every location can be reached by motorized transport. Visiting the Spreewald means getting around by muscle power. Public transport is virtually nonexistent.

• Freilandmuseum Lehde

  phone: +49 3542 2472
  address: near Lübbenau

• Slawenburg Raddusch

  phone: +49 35433 55522
  rebuilt Fort

• Kirche St. Nikolai

  address: Lübbenau

• Spreewaldmuseum

  address: Topfmarkt 12, Lübbenau

• Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche

  address: Lübben
  Late Gothic

• Stadtmuseum Schloss Lübben

• Schlossinsel

  address: Lübben
  with Wasserspielplatz, Buchenlabyrinth

• Burglehn

  address: Lübben
  remains of Slavic castle

• Bismarckturm

  address: Burg
• Visit the impressing post-mining landscape that left large areas devastated land (undergoing rehabilitation) south of Cottbus and the Spreewald.

• Take a guided boat tour on one of the traditional barges to experience the beautiful nature in this area. The barges are moved forward by punting - similarly to the gondolas in Venice. The ferrymen explain the nature and culture of the Spreewald on the way. If you need an English-speaking ferryman, you are most likely to find one at the larger tourist stations in Lübben or Lübbenau.
• Hire a canoe or kayak from one of the plenty to paddle some of the hundreds of kilometers of waterways yourself.
• Go on a hiking or cycle tour in the beautiful nature and landscape. Numerous quiet hiking and bicycle tracks lead through the beautiful countryside.

• Spreewald Therme

  address: Ringchaussee 152, Burg (Spreewald)

• Tropical Islands Resort

  address: Krausnick
  Tropical theme park in old airship hangar.

Typical dishes

• Do not miss to try the large variety of pickled cucumbers (cornichons), horseradish, linseed oil and "Sauerkraut" - that is what the region is famous for. Pickled cucumbers are available sour, with herbs, with garlic, with mustard - the choices are almost infinite.
• Pike and pike-perch (sweetwater predatory fish) served with a heavy sauce made from cream, flour and horseradish.
• Potatoes with cream cheese, onions and linseed oil. Be careful with the latter, it is said to be very healthy but you really have to get used to it. In other regions, they use the stuff to produce putty to seal windows and not to eat.

Restaurants

• Alter Spreewaldbahnhof

  phone: +49 35603 842
  address: Am Bahnhof 1, Burg (Spreewald)
  In the historic station of a now closed light railway that connected the villages in the upper Spreewald with Cottbus. Drinks and desserts (with small firework fountains) are delivered to the table by a large model railway. Very nice interior with uncountable antiques and collectibles related to railways. Reasonably good regional and German cuisine, but not top end. But definitely great fun, especially when you are with kids or a fan of model railways yourself.

• 17fuffzig

  phone: +49 35603 620
  address: Bleichestraße 16, Burg (Spreewald)
  Haute cuisine in the Resort & Spa "Zur Bleiche" (see Stay / Do). Pretty expensive, but worth it.

• Kaupen Nr. 6

  phone: +49 3542 47897
  address: Kaupen 6, Lübbenau
  Authentic local food served in an authentic place, an old renovated farmers' house.

• Zum Grünen Strand der Spree

  phone: +49 35472 6620
  address: Dorfstraße 53, Schlepzig
  Excellent food served in a nice ambience in a small village in the lower Spree Forest.

• Glück Auf!

  phone: +49 35603 243
  address: Ringchaussee 93, Burg (Spreewald)
  Here, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) is still alive! Three old ladies in nylon aprons serve good plain cooking. Huge servings and great value. Better to skip the other meals of the day before you go there. Sometimes closed for no obvious reason or because of private parties.

• Gasthaus Lehnigksberg

  phone: +49 3546-229303
  address: Lehnigksberg 1, Lübben

• Kräutermühle

  phone: +49 35603-61442
  address: Kurparkstr. 7b, Burg

• Restaurant Bleske

  phone: +49 35603-210
  address: Hauptstraße 43, Burg

• Local beer from a small brewery in Lübbenau ("Babben-Bier") is served in many restaurants in the area.
• The restaurant and hotel "Zum Grünen Strand der Spree" in Schlepzig serves beer from its own in-house brewery. Seasonal beer specialities are offered. The beer can also bought for take-away.

The Spreewald is a preferred region for short holidays of people from Berlin and Saxony. Around the holidays in April and May (Easter, Pentecost, Ascension) and during the summer holiday season, it may be hard to find accommodation without prior reservation. During the rest of the year, finding accommodation should be no problem. The local tourist offices will assist in finding accommodation.

• Camp with your tent or caravan at one of the numerous camping facilities in the middle of nature.
• Rent one of the many holiday apartments.
• Stay at one of the numerous bed & breakfasts and hotels.

• Zelten am Ostgraben

  phone: +49 35603-18773
  address: Schwarze Ecke 32, Burg

• Landgasthof "Zur Wildbahn"

  phone: +49 35603-293
  address: Wildbahnweg 20, Burg

• Wasserwanderrastplatz "Zum Jägerhof"

  phone: +49 35603-750262
  address: Erste Kolonie 42, Burg

• Wasserwanderrastplatz "Ramonas Wiesenfühlung"

  phone: +49 35603-61839
  address: Weidenweg 4, Burg

• Pension Kräuterscheune

  phone: +49 35603-61442
  address: Kurparkstr. 7b, Burg

• Ferienhof Fiedermannhof

  phone: +49 35603-75960
  address: Erste Kolonie 13, Burg

• Pension Schwalbennest

  phone: +49 35603 466
  address: waldschlösschenstraße 41, Burg

• Hotel zum Leineweber

  phone: +49 35603-640
  address: Am Waldrand, Burg

• Spreewaldhotel zum Krabat

  phone: +49 35603-750950
  address: Brandenburger Straße 20, Burg

• Hotel zur Linde

  phone: +49 35603-209
  address: Hauptstraße 38, Burg

• Spree Balance

  phone: +49 35603-759490
  address: Ringchaussee 154, Burg

• Zur Bleiche Resort & Spa

  phone: +49 35603-620
  address: Bleichestraße 16, Burg

• Schloss Lübbenau

  address: Lübbenau

• Canoeing is absolutely safe because most of the waterways (except for a few larger ones) are only knee-deep.
• Mosquitoes and horse-flies can be pretty annoying in wet summers and summers following mild winters. However, repellents will help.

• Cottbus
• Potsdam
• Dresden, 1½ hours south by car)
• Berlin, 1 hour north (by car or train)