Kaisermühl: History by the Canal

Kaisermühl’s local history is closely connected to the Friedrich Wilhelm Canal, now called the Oder–Spree Canal. A pedestrian and cycle bridge crosses the canal, linking the two parts of the village; historic buildings and places of remembrance add to its character. If you are considering Kaisermühl as a destination, you can make your choice based on whether you are particularly interested in the settlement’s development, its historic buildings, or crossing the canal on a regional route.

Canal and Local History

The Friedrich Wilhelm Canal was completed between 1662 and 1668 as a navigable link about 27 kilometres long, with 13 locks. The history of the settlement of Kaisermühl is closely connected to this waterway.

After the former bridge was blown up in April 1945, a ferry operated there from 1945. It carried people across the canal year-round until 1990 and seasonally from 1990 until November 1999. In summer 2007, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge reconnected the previously separated parts of Kaisermühl. The former ferry site in Kaisermühl was converted into a rest area.

Buildings and Places of Remembrance

The historic manor house and its park were built between 1790 and 1800; it is known locally as the “castle.” A listed 18th-century settler’s house bears witness to the period of settlement. The half-timbered building that is now the “Kaisermühle” hotel and restaurant is considered the oldest house in Kaisermühl. The hotel and restaurant were first mentioned in 1604; Hotel Kaisermühle was built on the foundations of the village’s oldest house.

The “Old Oak,” also known as the “Peace Oak,” is protected as a natural monument and belongs to the species Quercus robur. It was planted on 2 May 1872 beside a war memorial dedicated to the Kaisermühl residents who fell in the First World War. The local landmarks mentioned here therefore range from the settlement period and the manor house to a specific date in the 19th century and a memorial to the fallen.

Route Connections

The Mönchstour crosses the Oder–Spree Canal in Kaisermühl. In the area around Kaisermühl, the NEB excursion route also runs from Müllrose station along the Friedrich Wilhelm Canal to Groß Lindow on a cycle and hiking trail marked with a red bar. The routes differ in their course: the NEB route follows the canal to Groß Lindow, while the Mönchstour crosses it in Kaisermühl.

Routes in the Wider Müllrose Destination

In the wider Müllrose destination, three routes of different lengths can be compared. The Drei-Seen-Weg in Müllrose is around six kilometres long, starts and ends at the market square, and runs along the Großer Müllroser See, the Kleiner Müllroser See, and the Katharinensee. The circular hiking trail around the Großer Müllroser See is nine kilometres long and starts at Müllroser Markt. The 25-kilometre Schlaubetal hiking trail leads from Müllrose to Wirchensee through the Schlaubetal and has been certified as a quality hiking trail by the German Hiking Association. In Müllrose, you can choose between a shorter route by three lakes, a circular trail around the Großer See, and a certified hiking route through the Schlaubetal.

For the wider travel overview: Müllrose.