Friedrichswalde: Clog-making, churches and circular trails

Friedrichswalde brings together a distinctive craft tradition, church architecture and circular trails. When planning a stay, it is easy to distinguish the local highlights: clog-making represents a cherished tradition and a demonstration workshop; the trails lead either to historic memorial sites or to lakes. The wider travel destination of Barnim also offers its own regional context.

Clog-making in Friedrichswalde

In Friedrichswalde, the tradition of clog-making is kept alive and cherished by the “Pfälzer Erbe” local heritage association. The Clog-Making Experience Centre showcases the production of “Klompen” in a demonstration workshop: they are made by hand and with special machines dating from 1928. The cherished tradition and demonstrations of specific production methods thus stand side by side as distinct aspects of the craft theme.

Advance registration is required to visit the Clog-Making Experience Centre; confirm this requirement before your visit. Groups of six or more can enjoy a bespoke programme featuring a clog-making demonstration, a clog quiz, a historical film about clog-making and a short excursion. Check with the centre in advance to confirm current options.

Churches and architectural history

The Reformed Church in Friedrichswalde was built between 1776 and 1783. Its half-timbering was clad in brick in 1890; the single-nave brick building makes a particularly striking architectural impression. Its architectural history therefore encompasses both its construction in the late 18th century and the later alteration of its exterior.

Another church to visit is St. Michael’s Church in the centre of the village of Friedrichswalde. Its services include a motorcycle service.

Two circular trails, different highlights

The Mellin Circular Trail passes historic memorial sites: it runs by the old cemetery of the vanished village of Mellin and the Franz Neumann memorial stone. The stone commemorates the founder of theoretical and mathematical physics. The circular trail thus links two specific sites connected to history and a notable individual.

The Prüßnick Circular Trail has a different focus: it invites visitors to take a break on the shore of the Great or Little Prüßnick Lake at any time of year. While the Mellin Circular Trail passes a cemetery and a memorial stone, the Prüßnick Circular Trail focuses on taking a break by the lake.

Barnim as a wider travel destination

The Barnim district’s network of cycling routes covers a total of 610 kilometres. Cycling in Barnim Nature Park is also an activity for visitors. The 143-kilometre “Around the Schorfheide” circular hiking trail passes through Barnim Nature Park. These regional attractions place cycling and hiking routes in a broader context than the two circular trails in Friedrichswalde.

Cultural and historical attractions in the wider travel destination of Barnim include Chorin Monastery, a landmark of North German Brick Gothic, and the Niederfinow Boat Lift, Germany’s oldest still-operating boat lift. The Finow Canal is also part of this regional theme: it is Germany’s oldest artificial waterway that is still navigable.

Boat trips are available on Lake Werbellin, while canoe trips are possible on the Finow Canal. Numerous lakes in Barnim offer opportunities for relaxation. The wider region thus encompasses not only architectural and engineering history, but also cycling and water-based activities, while Friedrichswalde’s local attractions are shaped by its craft tradition, churches and two circular trails.

Discover more destinations: Parlow, Werneuchen, Britz, Breydin, Hohenfinow, Ahrensfelde, Oderberg, Eberswalde.

See the wider travel overview: Barnim.