Discover Groß Kreutz (Havel)

Groß Kreutz (Havel) is a suitable destination for travelers who want to combine local history with trails and landscapes. Its defining themes are spread across several districts: Groß Kreutz is home to the village church, Schenkenberg to the telegraph station, while Deetz, Götz and Krielow each offer different connections to nature and history. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on architectural history, cycling and hiking tours, or the distinctive aquatic and plant life.

Cultural history across several districts

The village church in Groß Kreutz was built in the 13th century as a fieldstone church with a narrower chancel and a western tower. Historical details inside include a pulpit altar dating from 1722 and an organ built in 1800. The church thus brings together a medieval construction date and furnishings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

In Schenkenberg, the telegraph station No. 6, built in 2016, commemorates the Royal Prussian Optical Telegraph Line, which operated from 1832 to 1849. The information tower, with its signal mast, contains display panels about optical telegraphy and the Telegraph Cycle Route. The dates distinguish the historic line from the memorial site built later.

In Krielow, a memorial stone and a monument on Mühlenberg commemorate Otto Lilienthal’s successful gliding flights in 1891, which covered distances of up to 25 meters. Together with the telegraph station, they highlight two different aspects of the history of technology: flight experiments and their range on the one hand, and optical communication on the other.

Salt meadow, lakes and bathing area

A very well-preserved salt meadow of more than ten hectares lies in Jeseriger Bruch, within the Rietzer See nature reserve. Its specialized salt-tolerant plants include sea arrowgrass, saltmarsh rush and several hundred thousand sea asters. The area and its distinctive plant life make this landscape a nature attraction in its own right in Groß Kreutz (Havel).

The Deetzer Erdelöcher tell a different story of the landscape: clay was extracted from these former clay pits for the surrounding brickyards for more than a century. Today, they are filled with water, and trees and reeds surround a labyrinth of small and large lakes. The salt meadow at Jeseriger Bruch and the lake landscape formed from clay pits thus represent distinctly different natural features.

At the Havel bathing area at Deetzer Ablage, the entry into the water is especially gradual. Local bathing conditions may vary by season, so take the current season into account when planning your visit.

Exploring on foot and by bike

The Havel Cycle Route passes through Götz and the Götzer Berge hills. In Deetz, visitors can explore the local flora and fauna on hiking trails and the Havel Cycle Route, which opened in 2008. There are also several well-marked trails through pine forest to the Götzer Berge observation tower. The hike from Götz to the tower is about four kilometers long.

The routes can therefore be distinguished by their focus: the Havel Cycle Route is the cycling route, while the trails through the pine forest lead to the observation tower. The hike from Götz to the tower is approximately four kilometers long. These different route options provide clear guidance on whether you would like to cycle, hike or explore the local flora and fauna.

Plan your journey

The Groß Kreutz and Götz railway stations are on the Berlin–Potsdam–Brandenburg–Magdeburg railway line; both are served by the RE1 regional express. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Marquardt, Caputh, Päwesin, Rabenstein/Fläming, Nuthetal, Gollwitz, Ziesar, Beetzseeheide.

View the regional travel overview: Potsdam-Mittelmark.