How to get to the mountains:
- Up and down:wonderful half-day tour through lofty heights
- Looking far: 5 spectacular panoramic views along the tour
- Fly far: Ski jumps you have to see - otherwise you won't believe it
- Experience nature:breathe in the forest and visit the House of Nature Conservation
Start & Finish: Bad Freienwalde train station
Length: 9,5 km / approx. 3 hours
Public transport: RE3 from Berlin Hbf or Gesundbrunnen or RB24 from Ostkreuz or Lichtenberg, then RB 60 from Eberswalde to Bad Freienwalde
Departure public transport: RB60 from Falkenberg (Mark) to Eberswalde (hourly), then on to Berlin
travel tip
Once you arrive at the train station in the spa town of Bad Freienwalde, you have to turn left along Bahnhofstrasse, past the Oderland Museum and the tourist information office. Follow this street, which then turns into Weinbergstrasse, until the last turnoff to the right. From there you can start your next hiking adventure.
Thuringian Forest in Brandenburg
The mountains are only about an hour away from Berlin! The train takes you comfortably to Bad Freienwalde, where your tour starts. You pass the market square and take Weinbergstrasse and the first climb to the historically artificial ruin, the oldest viewing point in Bad Freienwalde. Here, high above the town, you can enjoy the wide view over the small town and the Niederoderbruch with the island of Neuenhagen for the first time.
Just a few meters further on, the next viewing highlight awaits you: from the "Thuringian View" you can see the famous boat lift in Niederfinow in the distance. The scenery with forest, hills and small mountains reminds you of the low mountain range - almost like the Thuringian Forest. The nearby refuge offers shelter in bad weather.
The inventors of the conservation owl
Now you pass the House of Nature Conservation. You should definitely take a break here and explore the idyllic show and educational garden and the small nature conservation museum. It is the legacy of Erna and Kurt Kretschmann, pioneers of East German nature conservation and co-inventors of the owl, the nature conservation symbol on a yellow background that is now valid throughout Germany. The owl tower offers you an excellent panoramic view of the garden and the wooded hills around Bad Freienwalde. In the distance you can see the neighboring country of Poland.
Spectacular: how the ski jumpers look into the abyss
The tour takes you to Papengrund. Here at the sports stadium you will definitely be amazed: a ski jumping facility in Brandenburg? And with four ski jumps - simply unbelievable. Bad Freienwalde with its extensive hilly terrain was once a winter sports center the likes of which can otherwise only be found in Bavaria, Thuringia, the Giant Mountains and the Harz Mountains. Even today, competitions are still held in Germany's northernmost winter sports center. The best thing: you can climb the 38-meter-high ski jump tower and experience the view of the ski jumpers before they jump. By the way: the ski jump record is 72 m!
Final view of Fontanes Bad Freienwalde
You continue hiking in a wide arc over the wooded mountain slopes south of the city, steeply up to the fountain chapel and then over to the impressive Wilhelmshöhe observation tower. If you are already feeling hungry, you can take a 20-minute detour to the Café Blaue Zwiebel, idyllically located by the pond, and treat yourself to a refreshment and regional specialties.
The path leads through the town to the castle and park, past the beautiful St. George concert hall and through the historic town centre to the market square. Here at the church, you must admire the large-format view of the town: a scene that the famous writer Fontane visited the town to see.
Plan your late-riser tour to the “Brandenburg Central Mountains” now!
Extra tip:
- Save with the tower ticket: The tower ticket costs 6 or 3 € (adults / reduced) and includes entry to all 4 Bad Freienwalde towers.
- In the House of Nature Care Through guided tours and seminars, you can learn more about the ecologically sustainable gardening methods used there, the use of herbs and nature conservation options for your home garden.
- The most extreme elevation profile that can be found over 25 km of hiking trails in Brandenburg is offered to you the size summit climber tour: from Falkenberg to Bad Freienwalde, 4 towers, even more great views and almost 1.000 meters of elevation - a real 'rollercoaster' with steep climbs from start to finish. But be careful: if the tour is too difficult, your fitness was too weak ;)
Bad Freienwalde: The best eggnog cake in Brandenburg at Café Blaue Zwiebel, organic food at Ladencafé Immergrün, pizza at La Fontana and other options around the market square and adjacent streets.
