In Kotzen, a break on the Havelland Cycle Route can be combined with other opportunities to explore on foot or by bike. Visitors on the Havelland Cycle Route can use the new seating and bicycle racks in Kotzen to take a break. If you are counting on using these facilities, check their availability in advance.

Taking a break, hiking and cycling in Kotzen

Kotzen and its surroundings, including the districts of Kriele and Landin and the municipal area of Rhinsmühlen, offer numerous hiking and cycling opportunities. This gives you two distinct points of reference for planning your trip: a specific place to stop for visitors on the cycle route, and opportunities for hiking and cycling in the municipality and surrounding area. You can decide whether your stay will focus on cycling, a hike, or a break during your cycling trip.

A hedge on the northwestern edge of town

A diverse tree-and-shrub hedge made up of native species suited to the location was planted along around 800 metres on the northwestern edge of Kotzen. The species include hazel, wild roses, goat willow, rowan, wild cherry and field maple. Alongside opportunities to get active in the municipality, this provides a specific landscape feature on the edge of town: the hedge brings together several woody species in an extended planting and gives the northwestern edge of town a distinctive connection to nature.

Cycling and nature experiences in the Havelland

In the wider Havelland travel region, the Havelland Cycle Route offers a regional point of reference: it 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. In addition, the Havelland junction-signposting system lets you plan your own cycling routes. The two approaches differ: the Havelland Cycle Route follows a named route, while the junction-signposting system is intended for planning your own routes.

Another nature-related attraction in the Havelland is birdwatching at Lake Gülper See. On the southern shore, an educational trail around 1.5 kilometres long features illustrated information boards. During spring and autumn migration, up to 100,000 geese and hundreds of cranes gather there, along with numerous waders, ducks and great egrets. The seasonal difference is important when planning a trip: bird migration is especially prominent in these two seasons, while the trail combines wildlife observation with information boards.

Culture and landscape in the Havelland

Cultural attractions in the Havelland also offer a range of different focuses. The Fontane Museum in Ribbeck Castle opened on 1 May 2019. Using modern museum technology, it explores the connections between Theodor Fontane, his century, Ribbeck and the castle's architectural history. The Lilienthal-Centrum Stölln houses an exhibition of importance beyond the region. The Lilienthal Trail in Stölln connects the centre with the IL 62 “Lady Agnes” at the foot of Gollenberg.

The Westhavelland Nature Park Centre brings the lowland landscape, the renaturation of the Lower Havel, Germany's last great bustards and the country's first star park to life for visitors of all ages. Alongside birdwatching and cycling, the Havelland therefore offers nature park themes, literary and castle history, and the story of Lilienthal. These regional examples complement the specific opportunities in Kotzen without equating them with the attractions on the edge of town.

Discover more destinations: Ketzin, Havelaue, Premnitz, Milower Land, Dallgow-Döberitz, Börnicke, Stechow-Ferchesar, Falkensee

For the wider travel overview: Havelland.