Start in the Buckow center

Nestled in the Märkische Schweiz Nature Park lies the tranquil town of Buckow (Märkische Schweiz). The small spa town on the Schermützelsee is certainly one of the most beautiful gems in Brandenburg and is the starting point for a popular hiking region. 

Located just 50 kilometers east of Berlin, Buckow can be reached quickly by public transport or by car. Parking is available near the bus stop at the market. The Märkische Schweiz tourist information office welcomes visitors. In the pretty half-timbered house, you can get any final tips for the upcoming tour if you need them. 

In front of the first Stobber Bridge, a cosy herb garden exudes the scent of the season.

Through the castle park

Although the park that you have to cross no longer contains a castle, it still has extensive green spaces and places of peace and quiet. The area, which was converted into an English landscape garden in the 19th century, serves as a beautiful spa park. Over 30 identified tree species invite nature lovers to embark on a first journey of discovery, at the end of which a picturesque view opens up over the Griepensee.

The Stobber is crossed again at the Schönfärberbrücke. The name refers to a formerly resident dyers' guild. Shortly behind it, however, a Soviet memorial in the shape of a wing commemorates a plane crash that occurred in a nearby swamp during the war.

Schweizer Haus Visitor Information Center

A visit to the exhibition in the Swiss House is a must. Informative and inspirational, the barrier-free and modern permanent exhibition "Expedition into Märkische Schweiz" provides an overview of the nature park and invites visitors to deepen their understanding of the ice age formation and change of the unique cultural landscape.

Before crossing the Stobber again at the Malzmühlenbrücke, it is a good idea to take a break after 1,5 kilometers and linger in the idyllic natural garden. How about a refreshment next door at the Stobber stream? The Kneipp foot bath with handrails allows for invigorating refreshment of the feet and calves.

From Hops to Wine

On the Hop Trail you will eventually come across the vineyard. Buckow was a hop-growing region for a long time in the Middle Ages. The beer from "Hoppen-Buckow" made the small town famous far beyond its borders. Old hop gardens and wild hops along the trail are evidence here and there of the heyday of beer brewing. The vineyard, on the other hand, only played a short-term economic role in Buckow.

A Place of World Literature

Berthold Brecht and Helene Weigel also often enjoyed the idyllic setting of Schermützelsee. The artist couple had chosen Buckow as their summer residence in 1952 and worked in a studio house built at the beginning of the 19th century. Today's Brecht-Weigel House is one of Germany's most important literary memorials. In 1953, Brecht wrote the cycle of poems "Buckow Elegies", which deals politically with the situation in the GDR, among other things. Now the beautiful resort with its enchantingly landscaped barrier-free garden and access to Schermützelsee awaits literature lovers from all over the world, who can also see the recently opened visitor center.

The dreamy Buckowsee

The Lunapark begins right behind the Brecht-Weigel-Haus. A paved forest path leads through Buckow's second spa park and finally to the third lake on the tour. The name of the Buckowsee, like the name of the town, goes back to the Slavic settlement period - buk = beech. A covered viewing point and several seating areas offer the best panoramic view of the small town skyline with the distinctive Buckow parish church. The park also houses the adjacent Ice Age Garden, where large boulders and display boards remind us of the formative power of the last Ice Age, which formed the Märkische Schweiz and also Buckow with its lakes.

Enjoyable conclusion

Before returning to the pretty market and the starting point of the tour, a short detour to the railway museum with its local history room and adjoining Kneipp adventure garden is a good idea. These are lively places that reflect the enthusiasm of Pastor Kneipp's railway and health fans in Buckow. If you want, you can use the nostalgic museum train on weekends in the summer months to return to Berlin.

If you would like to end the tour with Buckow delicacies, choose one of the many gastronomic options around the market or town mill and enjoy watching the cozy hustle and bustle. Or how about a homemade ice cream from the ice cream basket to enjoy the view over the Buckowsee and the rolling landscape once again - that must be the much-quoted Buckow flair.