Chorin Monastery is a key work of North German Brick Gothic. Barnim can also be explored through its history of technology, water-based experiences, and cycling and hiking opportunities. These varied themes give you room to tailor your stay to the interests that appeal to you most.
Brick Gothic and the history of technology
Niederfinow Ship Lift is Germany’s oldest still-operating ship lift. The Finow Canal complements this perspective as Germany’s oldest artificial waterway still open to navigation. Both relate to water engineering, but show it in different forms: as a ship lift and as an artificial waterway. Together with the Brick Gothic of Chorin Monastery, they create a journey of discovery from architecture to engineering. In Brandenburg, Chorin Monastery hosts concerts, guided tours, markets and spiritual events throughout the year. Check the dates if one of these events is a key part of your plans.
Water-based experiences
Water also plays several roles as a setting for experiences. Sightseeing cruises are offered on Lake Werbellin; canoe trips are possible on the Finow Canal. The activities themselves distinguish the two options: a cruise on the lake or a canoe trip on the canal. Barnim also has numerous bathing lakes where you can relax. Brandenburg, as a broader travel destination, has around 3,000 lakes.
By bike and on foot
Cycling is one of the activities available to visitors in Barnim Nature Park. The cycling network in Barnim district totals 610 kilometres. Across the state, Brandenburg has more than 7,000 kilometres of cycle paths. The two figures refer to different scales: 610 kilometres applies to the district network, while the larger figure covers Brandenburg as a whole. If you’re considering cycling, this distinction can help you put the figures into context. As route infrastructure can change, check the current route before setting out on a specific ride.
The “Around the Schorfheide” circular hiking trail is 143 kilometres long and passes through Barnim Nature Park. Its length describes a single hiking route, whereas the 610 kilometres refers to the entire cycling network in the district. These are two different planning scales: one specific hiking route and a district-wide network. The trail is a large-scale option for planning a longer hike. Hiking in the Schorfheide is also one of the visitor activities in the wider Barnim region.
The wider landscape
The Ice Age Geopark at the Oder Edge extends across the Uckermark and Barnim districts in northeastern Brandenburg. Its geographical scope therefore reaches beyond a single district, linking Barnim’s natural landscape with a larger area of Brandenburg. The broader landscape perspective is also far-reaching: Brandenburg’s 15 National Natural Landscapes cover a third of the state and together represent all of its habitats and landscapes.
Discover more destinations: Ahrensfelde, AlthĂĽttendorf, Joachimsthal, Liepe, Wandlitz, Melchow, Schorfheide, Werneuchen, Eberswalde, Chorin, Friedrichswalde, Biesenthal, Marienwerder, Bernau bei Berlin, Hohenfinow, Breydin, Britz, Niederfinow, Panketal, Parsteinsee, Oderberg, Lunow-Stolzenhagen.
View the broader travel overview: Brandenburg.
