Birkenwerder combines hiking trails through the Briesetal Valley with insights into local history. To help plan your trip, you’ll find a range of options here: the river and wetlands, routes for hikers and cyclists, and historic buildings and exhibitions.
Nature, trails and water
The Briese flows through Birkenwerder, forming the Briesetal Valley before emptying into the Havel. A trail through the valley passes alder carrs, meadows, young woodland and wetlands. Numerous rare shrubs, mosses and ferns, as well as various orchids, grow in the marshy soil; dense deciduous and coniferous forests surround the landscape. A hike here therefore brings a variety of habitats and plants into focus.
A boardwalk crosses the Briese through a wetland, giving hikers a dry footing. A hiking trail also runs between the village district of Briese and the motorway bridge; it is part of the Berlin–Copenhagen Cycle Route as well. The long-distance cycle route passes through Birkenwerder; according to the municipality, it and the Havel Cycle Route are also suitable for day trips from here.
From the Briesetal Forest School, an approximately 2.5-kilometre hiking route leads southeast back to Birkenwerder S-Bahn station. The distance is approximate; check the waymarking and access before setting out, too. In summer, a newly renovated beach at Briesesee in the village district of Briese invites visitors to swim. Check the beach facilities before your trip.
Briesetal Forest School
The Briesetal Forest School combines nature-related topics with a changing programme of events. These include nature walks, slide shows, mushroom advice, campfire storytelling evenings and craft afternoons for families. Dates and the availability of individual activities may vary; check the latest information if you’re planning a visit around them.
The exhibition includes a forest diorama featuring taxidermy specimens of native species. The outdoor grounds cover around 4,400 square metres and are designed as a nature discovery garden, with heathland, a pond, an inland dune and a moor. Alongside hiking trails, the diorama and varied landscape features offer nature-related points of interest to help with planning.
Village church and local history
The Evangelical village church in Birkenwerder was built between 1847 and 1849 by Friedrich August Stüler. The school and the former rectory, now used as a community centre, are also listed buildings. All three buildings were constructed from Birkenwerder clinker bricks. Together, they offer a concrete glimpse into the village’s architectural history.
The Birkenwerder History Room is located at the Clara Zetkin Memorial, Summter Straße 4, 16547 Birkenwerder. Visits are possible by telephone appointment, so arrange your visit by phone before you arrive. On display in the History Room is a living-room cabinet made at the former local furniture factory “Heim und Gerken.”
Another cultural history stop is the Clara Zetkin Museum in Birkenwerder. The last personal belongings of the socialist and women’s rights activist Clara Zetkin can probably be viewed there. This is not certain, so bear that uncertainty in mind if you’re planning to make the museum a fixed part of your itinerary.
Plan your journey and stay
Birkenwerder can be reached on S-Bahn lines S1 and S8 from Berlin or Oranienburg, and on regional train R20 from Potsdam and Hennigsdorf. As timetables may change, check connections before you travel. Birkenwerder station was opened at its current location in 1924.
Availability and capacity may change, so check these details in advance. You can plan your stay around the different options, whether you’re focusing more on hiking, cycling routes, summer swimming or local history.
Discover more destinations: Hohen Neuendorf, Stechlin, Gransee, FĂĽrstenberg/Havel, Zehdenick, Oranienburg, Wesendorf, Amalienfelde.
For the broader travel overview: Oberhavel.
