Wustermark has a variety of highlights: the village church reflects several phases of construction, Finkenberg offers views as far as Berlin, and Elstal brings together nature and sporting history. You can explore the area according to your interests, without expecting every stop to offer the same experience.
Construction History at Wustermark Village Church
Wustermark Village Church was built in 1703 using parts of an earlier structure. The square tower, topped with a Baroque curved dome, was added in 1793. Inside, there is a wooden ceiling in the form of a barrel vault dating from 1885. The church brings together architectural details from different periods: the earlier structure, the tower added later and the dated ceiling design. Architecture enthusiasts can trace the building's history through these distinctive features.
Views and Nature in Elstal
At Finkenberg in Elstal, visitors can reach the observation tower via hiking trails that converge on it in a star-shaped pattern. From there, the panoramic view extends as far as the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, 25 kilometres away. The actual viewing distance may depend on conditions. The viewpoint therefore offers a different perspective on the surroundings from the individual architectural details of the village church.
The Döberitzer Heide also offers a nature-focused experience. Admission to the Döberitzer Heide Nature Experience Centre and Sielmann's Döberitzer Heide Nature Landscape is free. As prices and current access conditions may change, check with the operator before visiting. In the wider region, Sielmann's Nature Landscape stretches over 3,600 hectares between Elstal and Potsdam.
At Karls Erlebnis-Dorf Elstal, the Bee Museum offers insights into the world of honey producers. Visitors can browse the on-site market selling products from local workshops and buy souvenirs or gifts. The museum and market offer different experiences; check their current opening arrangements before planning your visit.
Sporting History in Elstal, a District of Wustermark
The 1936 Olympic Village in Elstal offers another historical perspective. Many of the old buildings have been converted; their design still shows how athletes lived there and prepared for competitions. So this is not just about the shape of individual architectural features, but also what the buildings reveal about life and preparation for competition in the past.
More Nature and Cycling in the Havelland
The wider Havelland travel region offers further opportunities. On the southern shore of Lake GĂĽlper, a roughly 1.5-kilometre-long educational trail with illustrated information boards invites visitors to watch birds. During spring and autumn migration, up to 100,000 geese and hundreds of cranes gather there; numerous waders, ducks and great egrets also visit. The seasons determine which groups of birds are especially prominent.
The Havelland also offers different ways to plan a cycling trip. The junction-based signposting system makes it possible to put together individual cycling routes. The Havelland Cycle Route runs through the Havelländisches Luch via Nauen, Ribbeck and Rathenow, ending in the Westhavelland Nature and Star Park. It is mostly paved, flat and pleasant to ride. This lets you distinguish between a route put together to suit your preferences and the described course of the Havelland Cycle Route, without confusing regional cycling routes with the trails around the observation tower.
Discover more destinations: Kleßen-Görne, Schönwalde-Glien, Rhinow, Milower Land, Nennhausen, Dallgow-Döberitz, Havelaue, Börnicke.
Go to the main travel overview: Havelland.
