Schönefeld can be explored through three distinct themes: BER Airport, historic village churches in several districts, and protected green spaces. This lets you choose what to focus on—whether you’re interested in architecture, local history, events or the landscape.
BER, Transport and Events
The municipality is connected to Berlin’s bus and S-Bahn network, the A117 and A113 motorways, the B96 and B96a federal highways, and long-distance travel by train and plane. If you’re planning your trip around specific connections, check the latest timetables and services, as they may change.
Since 1992, the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) has been held every two years in the Schönefeld district. Exact event dates vary; check them before travelling if you’d like to plan your stay around the event. The airport itself also offers architectural and artistic highlights: BER’s building combines Bauhaus architecture with works by international artists. These can be seen by passengers and visitors at the airport. The observation deck is on the roof of Terminal 1, between the two runways. As visitor regulations may change, check the latest conditions before planning a visit.
Village Churches and Local History
The Evangelical village church in Schönefeld is a late Romanesque fieldstone church dating from the mid-13th century. Its grounds include a chapel containing the grave of the estate owner at the time, Karl Wrede, and his wife. The church is also a venue for Sunday services, regular events and celebrations such as the summer festival and the Schönefeld Festival of Lights. Dates may vary.
Selchow is home to a listed village church dating from the 14th century. Its furnishings include a Baroque pulpit altar, an ornately designed patron’s box and a late-medieval wooden crucifix from the late 15th century. The church and its furnishings date from different periods, giving the building a layered local history.
The listed Gothic fieldstone church in Waßmannsdorf dates from the mid-13th century. Its west tower was added later, and a Baroque altar stands inside. In Waltersdorf, the listed village church is part of a wider historic ensemble that includes a churchyard, a fire-engine house, a tomb for Wilhelm Zacher and remnants of a fieldstone wall. Those interested in rural architecture and local history can find a variety of examples across the municipality.
Green Spaces and Local Discoveries
Protected green spaces and recreation areas are also part of Schönefeld’s character. The Torfbusch nature reserve near Selchow is one of the municipality’s protected areas. In Waltersdorf, the Flutgrabenaue is also among the green spaces and recreation areas worthy of protection. These two places complement the historic buildings with a landscape perspective, without requiring a particular outing or route.
In Selchow, the Landebahn 3.0 café and beer garden combines a place to stop with a special view of air traffic: it is located directly behind a BER runway, where guests can watch planes take off from close by. In Rotberg, the bakehouse points to another aspect of local life. It was reconstructed based on a bakehouse from the 1930s; this historical connection gives it a distinctive place in Schönefeld’s local history.
A simple way to choose what to focus on is to compare the options: the churches showcase different architectural styles, furnishings and historical details, while Torfbusch and Flutgrabenaue draw attention to the municipality’s green spaces. BER, events and the Landebahn 3.0 café offer a different emphasis. This lets you choose the themes that best suit your stay.
Discover more destinations: Neuendorf Am See, Luckau, Drahnsdorf, Niederlehme, Halbe, Mittenwalde, Schwielochsee, Steinreich.
Go to the regional travel overview: Dahme-Spreewald.
