Brodowin is surrounded by seven lakes, many of them are popular places for swimming and sunbathing in summer. You can take a refreshing swim at any on of the following spots:
- Pehlitzwerder (Parsteinsee)
- Brodowinsee
- Kuhbad (Parsteinsee)
- Campingplatz Parsteinsee
- Rosinsee
Some of the bathing areas are not directly accessible by car, and require a short walk.
Viewpoint Rummelsberg
From the top of the “Kleinen Rummelsberg” (Little Rummelsberg) you will enjoy a unique view over Wesen Lake, Brodowin and its landscape, shaped and influenced by the ice-age. Due to its rare, continental, dry grasslands, the Little Rummelsberg is under nature conservation. The neighbouring “Großer Rummelsberg” (Large Rummelsberg) is about one meter higher.
Pehlitzwerder
The Pehlitzwerder, located in neigbouring Pehlitz is a jewel of nature. Depending on the water levels of Parstein Lake, Pehlitzwerder is an island or a peninsula which has been inhabited for thousands of years.
The poet and novelist Theodor Fontane was impressed by the beauty of its landscape and its rich history. He speaks about his visit to the “Goat Island“ – the popular name of Pehlitzwerder at the time – and of the history of “Mariensee” monastery in part 3 of his “Journeys through the Mark of Brandenburg”.
Some visible remnants act as witnesses to Pehlitzwerder’s animated history. These are a Slavic protective wall, as well as the remains of a wall of Cistercian “Mariensee” monastery, the predecessor to “Chorin monastery”.
In 1273, a mere 15 years after it was founded; the Cistercians abandoned the monastery “because of several inconveniences”. Parstein Lake’s continuously fluctuating water levels made it very difficult to plan further extensions to the monastery. This is why the decision was taken to relocate the monastery further west, to Chorin Lake. The site of the new monastery was far larger and is one of the most significant constructions of red brick Gothic architecture.
Chorin Monastery
A masterpiece of margravian, brick Gothic architecture. The Cistercian monastery was established between 1270 and 1300 and represented the pinnacle of gothic monastery architecture in the Margraviate of Brandenburg in north Germany. This is particularly noticeable by the uniquely fashioned western façade. From Brodowin, the monastery can easily be reached by foot via a path through the woods, or by bicycle.
www.kloster-chorin.org
The Chorin Summer Music Festival
The concerts of Chorin’s summer music festival are an annual highlight. In the 68 meter long central aisle of a three-aisled, once cross shaped basilica, guests listen to classical music concerts or enjoy the experience while picnicking on the lawn in the inner courtyard. There are several exhibitions on the monastery’s history. Lovely paths around the monastery and the Amt Lake will lead you past inviting restaurants. www.choriner-musiksommer.de
Schorfheide Chorin´s biosphere reserve
Since 1990, Schorfheide Chorin’s biosphere reserve is part of about 400 biosphere reserves worldwide that are recognised by UNESCO. The cultivated landscape in the northeast Margraviate of Brandenburg (between the upper Havel river, lower Oder river and Barnim) was formed in the ice-age, about 15 000 years ago. As it was used by humans over hundreds of years, it developed into a landscape rich in animal and plant species, in which its inhabitants lived and worked with nature. The biosphere reserve’s landscape is made up of about 129 000 hectares and is characterised by more than 2000 marshes and lakes. While this is the home of beavers and river otters, white storks nest in nearly every village. In all regions of the biosphere reserve, information centres offer guided and themed tours.
www.schorfheide-chorin.de
Schorfheide’s wildlife park
Schorfheide’s spacious wildlife park is a tourist hotspot. At 100 hectares in size, it is located at the village exit of Groß Schönebeck. You can view endangered domestic animal species such as moose, wisents, aurochs and wolves that stay in outdoor enclosures. Younger visitors can spend time on the playground or enjoy the opportunity to touch some of the animals in the ‘children’s zoo’.
The wildlife park will gladly arrange guided tours, an opportunity to feed wolves or to bake “Knüppel” cakes at the camp fire. Bookings are required for group visits.
www.wildpark-schorfheide.de
Ship Lift at Niederfinow
Visitors from all over the world admire this unique landmark of German historical technology.
For 20 years, a series of stepped sluices at Niederfinow served in overcoming the 36m slope of the Oder-Havel Channel before Niederfinow’s lift-lock took over in 1934
The attraction of this unique technology lies in its powerful steel construction, its massive counterweights, thick steel cables, the almost silent movement of its trough and its low energy expenditure. From the visitor’s platform you can enjoy a view over Niederoberbruch, the heights of Falkenberg and Liepe. With the construction of a second lift-lock and a modern information centre, Niederfinow’s attractions keep expanding. Several passenger ships offer sight-seeing trips on the Oder River and the Finow channel. A hotel and restaurants treat their guests to delicacies from Barnim region.
www.schiffshebewerk-niederfinow.info
The historic Finow channel
The Finow channel was constructed with great effort at the beginning of the 17th century. It is Germany’s first artificial water way and connects the Havel and Oder rivers. Nowadays the historic Finow channel begins in Zerpenschleuse and ends in Hohenstaaten. Over a 40km distance, technology lovers can view impressive, hydraulic engineered facilities which include a total of 12 sluices, weirs and other apparatuses. The vast swamp and grassland areas, forests, low marshes and still water areas are inviting places to linger and discover flora and fauna.
For more than 150 years the Finow channel was one of the most important German inland waterways. It thus contributed significantly to the industrial development of the Finow valley which is known as the “Industrial cradle of Brandenburg-Prussia”. The banks of the Finow channel are also the site of interesting structures of the thence located metal processing industry (brass-, copper hammer-, horseshoe- and horseshoe nail factories) and a paper factory.
After extensive restoration the Finow channel is once again consistently navigable and offers holiday makers and day visitors many aspects of cultural, historically technological-, hydraulic engineering and ecological interest.
Canoe trips
If you would like to explore the area from a water way, the “Kanu Verleih Oderberg” (Oderberg canoe rental) offers organised tours such as “moon light tours”, “lift-lock tours” or “nature-boat tours”.
Packmule trips in Brandenburg
The mule and packmule trips on offer are either short- or multi-day trips. They are guided by Sara Fuchs, a qualified biologist, whose insight on mules and natural history will accompany you through the most beautiful areas of Schorfheide-Chorin’s biosphere reserve and the national park of the lower Oder valley. The tours can commence in Brodowin. www.packeseltouren-brandenburg.de
Eberswalde Zoo
The Eberswalde zoo offers varied impressions of an extensive range of about 1400 animals. Its diverse species stem from 5 continents. The variety in this animal kingdom will guarantee a fascinating and exciting experience.
www.zoo.eberswalde.de
Eberswalde family garden
This generous 17 hectare park was established in 2002 for Brandenburg’s second provincial horticultural show and has kept its charm ever since. Special highlights include the differences in each designed garden, the wide view from the 28m viewpoint of the Montage-Eber-Krans, the magical fairy-tale landscape and the exploration of the working, underground ark and the paddleboat.
www.familiengarten-eberswalde.de