Gusow-Platkow: History and Landscape

Gusow and Platkow lie on the edge of the Oderbruch, below the Lebuser Platte and north of Seelow. These geographical landmarks provide a clear frame of reference. The museum, park and Gusow swimming lake each highlight different local themes, while the wider destination of Märkisch-Oderland encompasses additional cultural and nature-related topics.

Museum in Platkow: Place and contemporary history

The museum of the Gusow-Platkow History and Local Heritage Association (Geschichts- und Heimatverein Gusow-Platkow e.V.) is located in the Old School at Dorfstraße 18 in Platkow. Another part of the exhibition at Platkow Museum focuses on the end of the Second World War and the period after 1945 in the Oderbruch. This places the museum firmly in Platkow, while the exhibition section focuses on the period from the end of the war through the postwar years. For planning your trip, both the precise location and the Oderbruch theme are worth keeping in mind.

Park and swimming lake: different local settings

The 25-hectare park in Gusow, with its Derfflinger memorial stone, features impressive trees, winding paths and the Derfflingerstein. Natural features and a memorial stand side by side here—a combination that makes the park a distinct theme between landscape and remembrance. The Gusow swimming lake was created by gravel extraction. Its origins offer a different way of exploring the local landscape than the trees, paths and stone in the park. If you choose your destinations by theme, you can take in different local highlights without treating them as a single sightseeing destination.

More to explore in the wider destination of Märkisch-Oderland

In the wider destination of Märkisch-Oderland, the Brecht-Weigel House in Buckow is one of the cultural highlights. It has been a museum since 1977. The literature museum hosts readings, concerts, talks, discussions, films, exhibitions and special guided tours throughout the year; individual offerings vary. If you would like to plan your visit around a particular event, check its date in advance. The year-round program includes a range of event types, but not every individual offering is available at all times.

The wider Märkisch-Oderland region also offers two hiking routes of different lengths in Märkische Schweiz: the 17-kilometer Natura Trail and the certified Märkische Schweiz Nature Park Route, which is just under 21 kilometers long. The Natura Trail is the shorter of the two; comparing their lengths helps you gauge the scope of your planned hike. Check trail conditions locally before planning your hike.

For cycling, routes along the Oder-Neiße Cycle Route are available in Märkisch-Oderland. The Oderbruchbahn Cycle Route runs through the quiet landscape of the Oderbruch and also takes you back to the early 20th century and the history of rail transport. Its main route runs from Fürstenwalde/Spree, or alternatively from Müncheberg, to Wriezen. This cycle route connects the landscape with railway history; the alternative starting point offers another reference for route planning. As individual connections may change, check them before planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Märkische Höhe, Neuhardenberg, Görlsdorf, Diedersdorf, Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf, Vierlinden, Neutrebbin, Wilkendorf.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Märkisch-Oderland.