Lehnitz combines a distinctive lakeside landscape with a rich local history. Lehnitzsee is a narrow kettle lake, measuring 2.3 kilometres long and up to 450 metres wide. Lehnitz stretches along its eastern shore; mixed forests surround the village and extend for kilometres to the neighbouring towns of Schmachtenhagen, Summt and Borgsdorf. This gives you two clear themes to focus on when planning your trip: the lakeside landscape and Lehnitz’s historic sites.
At Lehnitzsee: circular walk and lock
The circular walk around Lehnitzsee offers views of the lake as well as places to rest at secluded coves and bathing beaches. One of the highlights of the route is Lehnitz Lock, where cargo ships, pleasure boats and excursion boats all pass through the lock. The lakeside landscape and shipping traffic thus offer contrasting aspects of the walk.
To reach the circular walk by public transport, take the RE5 or S1 from Berlin Central Station to Oranienburg, then bus 805 towards Liebenwalde to the “Finanzamt Oranienburg” stop. Check the timetables before travelling.
Local history and memorial sites
The former Jewish convalescent home in Lehnitz was founded in 1899 and served as a place of recovery for Jewish people in need until the National Socialists came to power. A memorial site inaugurated in 2015 by the harbour basin commemorates the victims of the “Klinkerwerk” satellite camp of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
Another important historical site is the heritage-listed Lehnitz-Nord forest settlement, a settlement ensemble in Lehnitz. It was built in the Oranienburg Forest between 1938 and 1943 on an area of seven hectares, with 20 detached houses for test pilots and Luftwaffe officers. The period of construction, area and original use give the ensemble a clearly defined historical context.
The Friedrich Wolf Memorial offers guided tours of the house, preserved in its original domestic setting with books, pictures and surviving historical documents. It is open to all visitors on Fridays from 12 noon to 4 pm.
More to explore in the wider destination of Oranienburg
The wider destination of Oranienburg offers distinct cultural attractions that broaden the perspective on Lehnitz. Oranienburg Palace is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum commemorates, at the authentic site, the history of Sachsenhausen concentration camp (1936–1945), Soviet Special Camp No. 1/7 (1945–1950) and the National Memorial and Museum (1945–1961). Thirteen permanent exhibitions can be visited in the camp’s surviving buildings, each connecting its thematic focus with the corresponding site. The memorial also offers an extensive educational programme for museum visitors.
For cyclists, the 300 km regional park route “Around Berlin” also passes through the town of Oranienburg: coming from Leegebruch, it runs through Eden to the palace, then through the centre and via Lehnitz Lock to Schmachtenhagen and Wensickendorf. Check route conditions before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Friedrichsthal
Go to the wider travel overview: Oranienburg.
