Discover Ketzin: Old Town, Havel and Culture

Ketzin offers a variety of ways to spend your stay: the Old Town with its architecture, activities on and along the Havel, and routes towards Paretz. When planning your visit, you can focus on local history, getting active or spending time by the water. The destinations differ in whether a walking tour, a day at the beach, an excursion or a festival is the main attraction.

Old Town and architectural history

The tour of the Old Town in Ketzin/Havel uses five blue information pillars to guide visitors to notable architecture and various historic buildings in the Old Town. Along the way, it introduces the town’s history. Children can scan QR codes on the pillars to listen to audio stories about the individual buildings. This offers two different ways to explore the town’s history: through architecture and through stories.

St. Peter’s Church is another historic landmark: it dates from the 12th century. The town museum opened in 1911 in the building that now houses the Tourist Information Office. The small brick museum in the courtyard of the town hall offers insights into the region’s former brickmaking industry. These subjects range from ecclesiastical architectural history to a former regional industry.

Activities on and along the Havel

The public bathing area “Ketziner Havelstrand” on Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Weg invites visitors to swim and relax from May to September. There is a beach volleyball court and a playground. Canoe trips and an introductory stand-up paddleboarding lesson are also available at Ketziner Havelstrand. The bathing area and water sports offer different ways to spend time by the water.

From the Havel promenade, you can watch people travelling along the Havel by water. Alongside activities on the water, watching the river from the shore offers another way to enjoy the area.

Circular walking trail and ferry connection

A signposted circular walking trail of about eight kilometres runs between the Old Town of Ketzin/Havel and Paretz. Along the way, you can explore sights and places. Its approximate length and circular route make it a distinct way to explore the area on foot.

The “Charlotte” Havel ferry is a public means of transport, providing crossings to Schmergow and the flower-filled town of Werder (Havel) all year round. As timetables may change, it is advisable to check the current timetable before travelling. Cyclists can also use the ferry to reach the Havel Cycle Route on the opposite bank. This means you can choose between a signposted walk and a ferry connection linked to a cycle route when planning your trip.

Fishermen’s Festival and Paretz

The Ketzin Fishermen’s Festival features traditional attractions on and along the Havel. These include fishing hauls, the German cutter rowing championships and water-skiing demonstrations. Visitors interested in events will find a different focus here from the historic sites or beach activities.

Paretz is a district of Ketzin/Havel. An audio guide in Paretz tells stories about new places and invites visitors to rediscover familiar ones. A visit to Paretz Palace is also recommended. Ketzin’s attractions thus range from local history and the region’s brickmaking industry to a circular walking trail, water activities and a festival featuring attractions on the Havel.

Discover more destinations: Paretz, Märkisch Luch, Kleßen-Görne, Dallgow-Döberitz, Brieselang, Nauen, Milower Land, Rathenow

Return to the main travel overview: Havelland.