The city wall, dating from the early 14th century, can be walked all the way around. St. Mary's Church, with its two towers and a landmark of Gransee, and the history of the Franciscan monastery add further distinctive facets of the town. Construction of the monastery began around 1280 with the building of the church.
City History on Foot and in the Museum
The local history museum and Gransee Tourist Information at Rudolf-Breitscheid-StraĂźe 44 illustrate the town's history with dioramas and a model of the town as it looked around 1930. If you would like to get to know Gransee on a guided tour, you can book one in advance through the local history museum, which organizes the town tours.
You can also visit two towers: Ruppiner Gate Tower and Powder Tower are open to visitors, and the key is available from the local history museum. Ask about key collection when planning your visit. The options on site differ: the city wall offers a walking circuit, while a guided tour provides an organized introduction to the town's history.
Getting Here and the Cycling Route
Gransee station is served by RE 5 from Berlin Central Station and from the direction of Stralsund and Rostock. Train connections may change; check the current timetable before departure.
The Stechlinsee Cycle Route offers another perspective on the area. It connects Gransee's old town with the Stechlin Nature Park Visitor Centre in Menz, the village of Neuglobsow on Lake Stechlin, and the water town of FĂĽrstenberg/Havel. Thus, alongside the walk along the city wall, there is a cycling route linking several named destinations.
Oberhavel as the Wider Regional Context
Beyond Gransee, the wider destination of Oberhavel offers a regional perspective. Oberhavel is part of the Ruppiner Seenland tourism region; the 66 Lakes Hiking Trail and European Long-Distance Path E10 cross the district. These long-distance trails cover a different scale from the walk along Gransee's city wall.
In the wider destination of Oberhavel, the Stechlin Nature Park Visitor Centre features an interactive exhibition about the special features of Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park. The sensory garden, with herbs, shrubs and other plants, invites visitors to taste, smell, touch and listen. The approximately 6 km forest and water trail around Roofensee can complement a visit to the visitor centre.
Oranienburg is also among the cultural destinations named in the wider destination of Oberhavel. Oranienburg Palace is the oldest Baroque palace in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. The palace museum displays famous works of art from the 17th century, as well as a unique silver collection and a remarkable porcelain room. An exhibition room of the Oberhavel Regional Museum in the palace is devoted exclusively to its history—from the Ascanian castle built around 1200 to its present-day use.
In Oranienburg, the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum uses 13 smaller permanent exhibitions to provide information on various aspects of the site's history; it is also a modern museum of contemporary history. The walk from Oranienburg station is said to take about 20 minutes. Check access information again before your trip.
Another regional highlight is Mildenberg: at the Brickworks Park, visitors can seasonally drive a locomotive themselves and earn a brickworks railway driver's licence. They drive a real diesel locomotive for half an hour and learn how to start, brake and operate the points. Dates and booking conditions may change; check them in advance.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Dannenwalde, Liebenwalde, Hennigsdorf, Stechlin, Amalienfelde, Kremmen, Oranienburg, Zehlendorf.
Back to the regional travel overview: Oberhavel.
