This cycling tour is a fascinating journey through the diverse facets of the Oder River. It leads along historic railway lines and tranquil dikes, through the vast polder landscape of the Oderbruch region and to the gentle Oder slopes in Poland. The route crosses the river's waterways nine times – sometimes the mighty current border channel, sometimes its old, almost forgotten branches, which speak of a once untamed nature. The tour itself becomes a mini-journey through the heart of Europe, as borders are symbolically overcome on the Europe Bridge and the "Without Borders" ferry.
start and finish: Wriezen train station
Length / Duration: 51 kilometers / approx. 3 - 3,5 hours
Character: A moderate tour with plenty of water through the fascinating cultural landscape of the Oderbruch region and along the Oder River. The route follows quiet country roads and well-maintained cycle paths.
Course: Wriezen, Europabrücke, Siekierki, Stare Łysogórki, Gozdowice, Güstebieser Loose, Zollbrücke, Neulietzegöricke, Altwriezen, Wriezen
Extra tip: Park your bike in Neulietzegöricke and walk the circular hiking trail "across the fields from village to village". Along the path between Neulietzegöricke and Altwustrow, 10 information panels explain the special features of the natural area and the two heritage villages.
Arrival and departure:
Public transport: RE4 from Berlin Hbf. to Eberswalde, then RB60 to Wriezen
The most beautiful border crossing: the Europa Bridge
Where trains once crossed the Oder River, today you can traverse the mighty waterway by bicycle. The Europa Bridge stands as a symbol of overcoming borders. Information panels tell its story, and seating areas invite you to listen to the chorus of frogs and herons in the floodplain. As you cycle across the nearly 900-meter-long structure, the Oder flows gently but steadily. From the viewing platform, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire Oder valley.
The Oderbruch region and its water veins
The tour begins in Wriezen, a small town closely linked to the history of the Oder River. Before it was drained, Wriezen lay directly on the fish-rich river and was an important trading center – the pike in the town's coat of arms still recalls the pike fishermen's guild. Today, the town center lies 11 km from the river. On Hafenstraße (Harbor Street), an old lime kiln, a factory owner's villa, and the harbor warehouse bear witness to the port's final days. The landscape is crisscrossed by several waterways: the new Oder Canal and the old river channels, the "Alte Oder" (Old Oder). Two of these old channels are crossed right at the start, after which the route runs straight along the Oderbruchbahn cycle path, following a former railway line. An old tobacco barn serves as a reminder of the forgotten tradition of tobacco cultivation in the Oderbruch region.
In the landscape park along the Polish Oder slopes
The "Zielona Odra" (Green Oder) cycle path continues southwards. Along the Oder slopes on the Polish side, magnificent views open up time and again. From the small hill near Stare Łysogórki, a sweeping vista unfolds across the floodplains. In this area of the Cedyński Nature Park, the former inland delta, with its marshes and riparian forests, appears particularly wild. With luck, you might spot grey herons, white-tailed eagles, and numerous other water birds. A large military cemetery serves as a reminder of the area's history of conflict.
Small ferry with a big name
In Gozdowice, a small local history museum with wartime artifacts also commemorates the region's turbulent past. Powered by two paddle wheels, the small ferry "Bez Granic" ("without borders") crosses the mighty river. Current ferry schedules, running hourly from April to October, can be found online at the Barnim-Oderbruch administrative office. On the other side, the Viadrus ferry awaits.
Tip: Be sure to take the short detour along the memorial wall to a former bunker. From the hilltop 40 meters above the Oder River, a magnificent panoramic view awaits: the mighty river, the vista of the Oder-Spree lake district – time to take a deep breath!
In the Middle Oder Lowland Bird Sanctuary
Crossing the Güstebieser Alte Oder, the path leads through the expansive landscape of the Middle Oder Lowlands bird sanctuary. Sheep graze on the flower-strewn flood dike, while in spring and late summer, thousands of greylag and bean geese dominate the meadows and the air – a spectacular natural phenomenon. A short section of the Oder-Neisse Cycle Path leads to Zollbrücke. Here, you can enjoy a culinary break before taking a look at the dike breach.
End of the tour in the colonist village and along the Alte Oder
In Neulietzegöricke, the oldest settlement village, it's still easy to see what the Oderbruch villages once looked like. Homemade cake awaits in the settlement café. The last few kilometers lead along the Old Oder River back to Wriezen.
Sights:
- Wriezen: Old Port
- Near Wriezen: Old tobacco barn
- Near Neurüdnitz: Europa Bridge
- Stare Łysogórki: Stare Łysogórki Museum
- Between Stare Łysogórk and Gozdowice: Viewpoint at the old bunker
- Gozdowice: Gozdowice Museum
- Near Gozdowice (German side of the Oder): Ferry “Bez Granic – without borders”, river god Viadrus
- Customs Bridge: Dike Notch Customs Bridge
- Neulietzgöricke: Colonist village of Neulietzgöricke
Refreshment tips:
- Europabrücke: Oderglück Café (seasonal)
- Stare Łysogórki: B&B
- Zollbrücke: Restaurant Dammmeisterei, Ziegenhof Zollbrücke, Zollbrücke with idyllic garden
- Neulietzegöricke: Colonists' Coffee
- Wriezen: Ristorante Due Amici
- Cycling brochure "Your bike. Your time out. Your flow.", Online shop Seenland Oder-Spree
