Georgenthal combines a protected landscape of lakes and streams with local history that can be dated with precision. The “Matheswall, Schmielen- und Gabelsee” FFH area encompasses Georgenthal as part of a larger landscape. Its origins as an outlying estate, the construction of a highway around 1800 and a listed milestone provide further specific points of interest to explore.
Lakes, spring area and glacial landscape
The 187-hectare area is in the Märkisch-Oderland district, in the municipality of Falkenhagen (Mark), Brandenburg. It extends for about 4.2 km from southwest to northeast and is up to about 950 m wide. It runs from the village district of Georgenthal via Gabelsee and Schmielensee to Schwarzer See, east of Falkenhagen (Mark). Near Georgenthal, the FFH area includes the spring area of the Platkower Mühlenfließ. Further along, the stream runs through a meltwater channel cut into the glacial ground moraine plateau. This landscape also includes Kalksee, Gabelsee and the Großer and Kleiner Schmielensee lakes.
From outlying estate to colony
Before 1756, the manor owner Georg Abraham von Hohendorff established an outlying estate in a valley depression and named it Georgenthal. It was 3 km south of the Falkenhagen manor. On 3 February 1756, by order of Frederick II, foreign, non-Prussian families were among those settled there. From 1776, Georgenthal was referred to as a colony and had its own village mayor. The village’s history can thus be traced through three dates: the establishment of the outlying estate before 1756, the settlement of 1756 and its designation as a colony from 1776.
Highway and milestone
Around 1800, the highway from Berlin to Frankfurt (Oder) between Heinersdorf and Treplin was routed via Georgenthal and Petershagen. This detour was created because Madam Blum, the leaseholder of the Falkenhagen estate, demanded too high a price for the land to be relinquished. A highway house was also built in Georgenthal during the highway’s construction around 1800. A listed milestone stands on the B 5 at kilometre 20.1.
More to explore in the larger destination of Falkenhagen (Mark)
The larger destination of Falkenhagen (Mark) has more to offer. There are bathing spots at Schwarzer See, Gabelsee and Mühlenteich, where water quality is tested regularly. Falkenhagen also has a dog beach. Hikers with an interest in history and technology can discover buildings and ruins of the military-owned armaments facility “Muna Ost/Seewerk, Falkenhagen” in Falkenhagener Heide. The facility was built between 1939 and spring 1945 and was partly housed in bunkers. A cycling loop runs from Alt Rosenthal via Regenmantel to Falkenhagen (Mark).
Stay overnight in Georgenthal
Ferienhof Georgenthal has six holiday apartments. Check availability before booking.
Discover more destinations: Seelow, Gusow-Platkow, MĂĽncheberg, Neuhardenberg, Alt Tucheband, Strausberg, Wilkendorf, Petershagen/Eggersdorf
Go to the regional travel overview: Märkisch-Oderland.
