Selchow: Lake Landscape and Architectural Heritage

Selchow combines a landscape shaped by lakes and wetlands with village history and historic architecture. This means two distinct themes take center stage when planning your trip: the Groß Schauener lake chain and the village’s buildings. Also check the latest notice about the Sielmann observation tower when planning your visit.

Lake Landscape and Birdlife

The Sielmanns Naturlandschaft “Groß Schauener Seen” is located in Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park, southeast of Berlin. Its lake landscape is protected as a nature reserve and provides a habitat for many rare species. Reed-lined shores and alder carrs offer ideal living conditions for otters, among other species. The Groß Schauener lake chain is of national significance for marsh and water birds; cranes and great bitterns nest here.

The nature reserve’s nearly 1,000-hectare area of water includes Schaplowsee, Groß Schauener See, Großer Wochowsee, Selchower See, Schweriner See and Bugker See. The Sielmann natural landscape is also defined by its almost continuous belt of silting-up vegetation, comprising reed beds, carr forests, peatlands and wet meadows.

Located on the nature trail, the Sielmann observation tower in Selchow offers views across the lakes and their belt of silting-up vegetation. Since May 20, 2026, the tower has been closed to the public until further notice. Damage to the wooden structure was found during a routine inspection. Check its status before your visit.

A Route Through the Lake Chain

The “Birdwatching along the Groß Schauener Lake Chain” route passes through Naturgut Köllnitz, along Groß Schauener See, through Groß Schauen, past Schaplowsee and Wochowsee. It continues through Groß Selchow and Bugk, past Bugker See and Schwerin, to Selchow and back to Naturgut Köllnitz. It runs mostly along paved paths. The route connects several villages and lakes in the Groß Schauener lake chain; Selchow is one stop on this loop.

Country House and Village History

Landhaus Selchow was built in 1913 to designs by Alfred Breslauer and Paul Salinger for the Jewish banker Paul Mankiewitz. It is a Neo-Baroque country house on a rectangular plan. The symmetrical rendered building features a three-bay central avant-corps, a mansard hipped roof with dormers and roof windows, and triangular gables. Other features include a balcony with a wrought-iron railing and a round-arched portal with a two-flight open staircase. The original extensive garden extended all the way to the lake.

The village green is lined with century-old lime and chestnut trees. It is home to the old school, the old fire station with its historic hose tower, renovated in 2019, and the war memorial. As of January 1, 2025, the village church at Selchower Dorfstraße 39 is listed in the Brandenburg State Monuments List.

More to Explore in Storkow (Mark)

In the wider destination of Storkow (Mark), the historic center includes the old town, the market square and the adjoining lanes. Storkow’s St. Mary’s Church dates back to the 14th century and has a 36-meter-high tower. The observation tower at Marstallwiesen also offers a sense of the landscape, with views over the lowland scenery of the salt sites and Schaplowsee.

The 8.5-kilometer Salzweg trail leads from Storkow Castle through the Luchwiesen meadows near Philadelphia and on to Groß Schauen; the return to the castle is via the Marstall and castle meadows. Naturgut Köllnitz is also located in Groß Schauen, within Storkow (Mark). It features an exhibition by the Heinz Sielmann Foundation about water, air and the world in between. These different local and landscape highlights offer further ideas when planning your stay in the wider destination.

Discover more destinations: Herzberg, Brieskow-Finkenheerd, Rauen, Tauche, Reichenwalde, Diensdorf-Radlow, Vogelsang, Mixdorf.

View the wider travel overview: Oder-Spree.