Discover Marienwerder

Marienwerder offers several different points of interest to consider when planning your trip: waterways, hiking and cycling tours, and local history. The Finow Canal runs through the municipality, while tours from Marienwerder lead to various named destinations. The towpath, the Schifferfest festival, and the Ruhlsdorf Museum also offer insights into the municipality’s history. To help you decide where to start, consider whether you are most interested in waterways, outdoor activities on land, or culture.

Waterways: history and present-day use

The Finow Canal, built in 1609, runs through the municipality of Marienwerder. According to the municipality, it is Germany’s oldest man-made waterway. It was once Prussia’s most important and busiest waterway; today, it is used mainly for tourism. Along the same canal, you’ll encounter both historic associations and present-day tourist activity.

Since 2018, the Werbellin Canal has linked the historic Finow Canal with the Oder-Havel Canal. This link allows sports boats to pass through and supports water tourism. If you are planning a boat trip, check the latest operating notices beforehand. The canal’s historical significance and the practical planning of a trip are two distinct considerations.

Hiking and cycling tours from Marienwerder

Hiking trails leading from Marienwerder connect Rosenbeck on the Werbellin Canal with Eichhorst and Lake Werbellin. Cyclists can take tours in all directions; destinations include the northern towns of Groß Schönebeck and Eichhorst, as well as Lake Werbellin. The information highlights different aspects: for hiking, it names specific connections and destinations; for cycling, it describes tours in all directions and destinations to the north.

A further route option is the second stage of the “Around the Schorfheide” tour. It runs from Biesenthal over sandy terrain toward Marienwerder on the Finow Canal. This stage adds a regional route to the hiking and cycling tours described as starting from Marienwerder.

Local history, the Schifferfest festival, and Lake Bernsteinsee

The Ruhlsdorf Museum is located in Ruhlsdorf, within the municipality of Marienwerder. Its twelve furnished rooms vividly depict life before and after the Second World War. Visits are available by appointment. The rooms offer a specific glimpse into local history; arranging an appointment is part of planning a museum visit.

A towpath in Marienwerder is evidence of horse-drawn towing in the 19th century. The Schifferfest festival is also still celebrated in Marienwerder. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the announced dates. The museum and the festival offer different cultural points of interest: one through its presentation of past ways of life, the other as an event that is still celebrated.

The beach facility on Lake Bernsteinsee is located between Ruhlsdorf and Marienwerder. It has a beach and several beach volleyball courts. Check the latest operating conditions before planning a visit.

In the wider destination of Barnim

The wider destination of Barnim offers further regional attractions. Chorin Abbey is a key example of North German Brick Gothic architecture; the Niederfinow Boat Lift is Germany’s oldest still-operating boat lift. The Ice Age Landscape Geopark on the Oder Edge extends across the Uckermark and Barnim districts in northeastern Brandenburg. These places represent different areas of interest: architecture, technology, and geopark landscapes.

The route information for Barnim also offers a broader perspective: the “Around the Schorfheide” circular hiking trail is 143 kilometers long and runs through Barnim Nature Park. The cycling network in Barnim district has a total length of 610 kilometers. Check current route information when planning a specific cycling trip. This helps distinguish Barnim-wide routes from tours that start in Marienwerder.

Discover more destinations: Ruhlsdorf, Bernau Bei Berlin, Breydin, Liepe, Wandlitz, Panketal, Friedrichswalde, Lunow-Stolzenhagen

Go to the wider travel overview: Barnim.