Start / Finish: Bad Saarow train station
Length / Duration: 11 kilometers, about 3,5 hours
Road condition / route development: predominantly natural paths
Course: Bad Saarow, Wierichwiesen, Rauener Berge, Bad Saarow
Arrival/Departure:
- Arrival: RE1 to Fürstenwalde/Spree, then RB35 to Bad Saarow
- Directions: When you arrive at the historic train station, keep to the right and turn right at the "Neue Bühne" and then immediately left again into Ringstrasse. At the end of Ringstrasse, the start of an exciting family adventure awaits you.
- Check out: RB35 from Bad Saarow
Directions
A stone's throw from Bad Saarow and into the middle of nature
In well under an hour, you can get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and into Bad Saarow with the RE1 and after a short change to the RB35. This is where the adventure begins and leads directly into the silence of nature. The Scharwenkasteig leads first to the Moor and Wierichswiesen. In this idyllic setting, moor is still mined today and used as a medicinal remedy for the spa operations in the thermal brine and moor spa in Saarow. To the left and right, there are wonderful, wide views over meadows that provide grass and hay for the animals of the organic farmers on the nearby Marienhöhe. In May and June you can discover orchids.
An interesting detour leads past the Schmeling Villa of the first German boxing world champion Max Schmeling, who lived here in the 1930s.
Spectacular view
The route continues through a forest with mighty oaks towards the summit. The steady climb is noticeable, but the effort is worth it! At the highest point of the tour there is a 40-metre-high observation tower that can be climbed via 209 steps - a challenge for those with a head for heights and those who love adventure. At a height of almost 200 metres, the best view in the entire Oder-Spree Lake District awaits you.
From above, the view opens up onto a spectacular low mountain landscape that was formed by the last ice age. Small signposts explain which destinations can be seen on the horizon. On a clear day, the view extends as far as Berlin, Frankfurt (Oder) and across the large Scharmützelsee.
Lakeland giants
The next highlight is just a few meters away: the Markgrafensteine. These huge boulders were transported here by the glaciers of the Ice Age and are among the largest in northern Germany. They are impressive because of their size and the stories that surround them - according to legend, even the devil lived here. Parts of the stones were used for the Berlin Lustgarten, but the largest stone still has a circumference of 17 meters.
Discover hidden things and learn interesting facts
If you still have energy, you can take a short detour to the remains of the Rauen ski jump. In 1988, the last ski jumpers flew into the valley in the middle of what is now a dense forest. The jump record is 33 meters. The tour then leads south downhill back to Bad Saarow and down to the lake. A nature trail accompanies the route and provides information about exciting stories and interesting plants along the way.
Bad Saarow and the Scharmützelsee
Back in Bad Saarow, the tour can end in a relaxed manner. A beer garden with a view of the lake invites you to enjoy a snack and refreshing drink. The nearby playground at the boat dock or directly in the clear waters of the Märkisches Meer provides fun and games.
In summer, the magic hut in the spa park is also a great place to visit. Here you can conjure up your own ice cream creations and use the large lawn to relax before taking the regional train back to the city.
Tips:
- Have 1 € / 50 cent coin ready for the observation tower (machine for 1 € entrance fee).
- Playgrounds: next to the harbor pavilion at the passenger ship pier and in the Bad Saarow castle park
- Bathing areas with a small beach directly on the promenade Strandbad Mitte or bathing area Kleistpark (north-west bank)
- (Pedal) boat rental at the passenger ship pier
- Scharmützelbob year-round toboggan run (only accessible by car)
- Bäckerei Dreißig near the train station for emergency provisions
- Travel cheaply and in a climate-friendly way: With the Brandenburg-Berlin ticket for up to five people, the journey is particularly inexpensive (day ticket €33). In addition, up to three children aged 6 to under 15 can travel for free.
Refreshment tips in Bad Saarow:
- beer garden at Scharmützelsee
- Freilich am See
- Magic Hut in the Kurpark (seasonal)
