On the southern shore of Lake GĂĽlper, a roughly 1.5-kilometre-long nature trail with illustrated information boards invites visitors to watch birds. The landscape becomes a setting for large gatherings, particularly during spring and autumn migration: up to 100,000 geese and hundreds of cranes gather at the lake. Numerous waders, ducks and great egrets also visit. This seasonal difference provides a practical guide to planning your trip: if you are interested in migratory birds, you can plan your visit for one of these two periods; however, a particular sighting is not guaranteed.
Explore Havelland by bike
If you would like to plan cycling routes flexibly, you can use the numbered-junction signposting in Havelland as a guide. It allows you to create your own cycling routes. Another option is the Havelland Cycle Route, which runs through the Havelländisches Luch via Nauen, Ribbeck and Rathenow to the Westhavelland Nature and Star Park. The route is mostly paved, flat and pleasant to ride. This gives you the choice between routes you put together yourself and a named route, without prescribing a particular section for any given day.
You can also explore the region on the water: Havelland can be discovered by canoe on the Havel. So, as well as cycling tours, water routes are another possible activity for your trip. The combination that suits your stay depends on whether you would rather spend your time cycling, by the water or visiting individual cultural and natural attractions.
Birdlife and protected landscapes
Lake Gülper combines wildlife watching with a clearly defined trail along its southern shore. The nature trail and information boards give your visit a focus; the large gatherings of birds, on the other hand, are part of the seasonal migration in spring and autumn. In the wider region, Westhavelland Nature Park was designated Germany’s first Star Park on 12 February 2014. This designation applies to the nature park and is a distinct feature of the wider region.
In Milow, the natural swimming area lies on the edge of the “Untere Havel Süd” nature reserve in Westhavelland Nature and Star Park. It has a wide sandy beach, offering a different landscape experience from birdwatching at Lake Gülper. The Three-Mountains Tour in the Milower Land, meanwhile, offers sweeping views of Havelland’s green lowlands from the open summit of Milower Berg. These destinations offer different highlights: the beach, the view and birdwatching are not interchangeable experiences, but give you different reasons to explore the region.
Museums, technology and regional history
At the Westhavelland Nature Park Centre, visitors of all ages can explore topics including the lowland landscape, the renaturalisation of the Lower Havel, Germany’s last great bustards and Germany’s first Star Park. Some of the harvest is made into apple juice there and offered for sale; check availability before your trip. The centre thus combines themes of nature and landscape with a regional product, although its origin cannot be attributed to any one of the excursions mentioned.
In Stölln, the Lilienthal Centre presents an exhibition about Otto Lilienthal that is significant beyond the region. The Lilienthal Trail connects the centre with the IL 62 “Lady Agnes” at the foot of Gollenberg. The exhibition and themed trail share the same namesake, but offer different ways to explore it: the exhibition indoors, and the route outdoors linking the two named sites. In Ribbeck, the Fontane Museum in the castle uses modern museum technology to present connections between Theodor Fontane, his century, Ribbeck and the castle’s architectural history. It opened on 1 May 2019. Schloss Ribbeck also serves as a tourist information point for the Havelland travel region.
Other cultural attractions offer different highlights. The Toy Museum in Havelland, in Kleßen, displays toys from 150 years of childhood. The Colonists’ Church in Großderschau was built in 1785 by order of Frederick II, following the completion of the drainage works; it is the only church the king had built for the colonists. Together with the Lilienthal Centre and the Fontane Museum, the selection spans technological history, everyday culture and regional architectural history.
More excursions in Rathenow and Milow
The Optikpark Rathenow offers, among other things, climbing towers, a barefoot trail and a large inflatable bouncy cushion. Raft trips are also offered on an adjacent former branch of the Havel. This adds a park visit with a range of activities to the cultural and historical attractions. In Milow, you can consider the wide sandy beach at the natural swimming area and the view from Milower Berg summit as two different landscape experiences; each place has its own distinctive appeal.
When looking for somewhere to stay, it may help to first decide what your trip is about: birdwatching at Lake Gülper, a cycling route, museums and history, or excursions along the Havel. Havelland’s attractions offer a variety of themes, but no prescribed circular route. Choose your stay based on the places and activities you actually plan to visit, and check the availability of seasonal offers before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Stechow-Ferchesar, Semlin, Friesack, Wassersuppe, Dallgow-Döberitz, Nauen, Falkensee, Börnicke, Brieselang, Ketzin, Havelaue, Retzow, Rathenow, Schönwalde-Glien, Premnitz, Rhinow, Milower Land, Nennhausen, Wustermark, Märkisch Luch, Gollenberg, Kleßen-Görne, Kotzen, Seeblick.
View the overarching travel guide: Brandenburg.
