Schönow offers nature experiences and cultural history with clearly distinct focal points. In the Schönower Heide, circular trails, heathland vegetation and wildlife watching take centre stage; the historic village green and fieldstone church shape the village, while the Hühnerstall Gallery hosts cultural events. This range can help you decide what to focus on when planning your trip: landscapes and trails, architectural history or a gallery visit arranged by appointment. It is also worth factoring the gallery’s visiting arrangements and the condition of the nature trails into your plans.
Schönower Heide: Trails and Landscape
The Schönower Heide is a protected natural area and a Natura 2000 site designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Its landscape includes common heather, nutrient-poor sandy grassland and pioneer woodland. The natural area therefore encompasses more than one type of vegetation. You can explore the heath on two circular hiking trails, with information and display boards along the way. Heathland in bloom and wildlife watching are also among the nature experiences, and fallow deer, mouflon and red deer graze on the heath all year round. When planning your visit, you can choose whether to focus on vegetation, wildlife watching or information along the way. Trail conditions may change; check them before your visit.
Wet Meadows and Small Bodies of Water
The Panke/Faule Wiesen nature reserve focuses on wet meadows and small bodies of water. Threatened animal and plant species live there, and trails in and around the area offer opportunities to explore. Compared with the Schönower Heide, these features help distinguish the nature experiences: here, wet habitats with small bodies of water take centre stage; there, heathland vegetation and year-round grazing. If you want to choose a particular type of landscape, this contrast offers a more concrete basis than simply deciding to go on a nature outing. Trail conditions may change; check them in advance.
Village Green and Fieldstone Church
The historic village green and fieldstone church are among Schönow’s defining features. The church was built at the beginning of the 15th century; its brick tower dates from the period after the fire of 1860. This means two distinct points in time can be identified in the same building: the church’s early construction and the tower’s later history. The materials also help put this architectural history in context: fieldstone characterises the church, while brick was used for the later tower. If you are interested in architecture, you can consider the church’s construction and the later changes made after the fire separately.
Cultural Events and Getting There
The Hühnerstall Gallery hosts cultural events; individual visits are possible by arrangement. Arrange your visit and check the programme in advance, especially if you plan to make the gallery a fixed part of your itinerary. The venue can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by car. Take the S2 to Zepernick, then walk for 20 minutes. If you choose this route, factor the walk into your plans and check the timetable. Arranging your visit time and checking the programme in advance are part of planning a gallery visit.
Discover more destinations: Börnicke, Lindow.
Return to the main travel overview: Bernau Bei Berlin.
