Friedrichsthal: Cycling Routes and Village History at the Lower Oder Valley National Park

Friedrichsthal is located on the edge of the Lower Oder Valley National Park. Cycling routes, the historic street village and the village church shape the local themes for a stay here.

Landscape and Village Character

The protected zone I “Kleines Bruch” covers around 46 hectares in the town of Gartz (Oder), district of Friedrichsthal, cadastral area 4. The continuous development of the historic street village, back gardens used for agriculture and orchards, as well as the adjacent fields, describe the structure of the village. This means that a compact village structure and the transition to the fields meet directly in the village description.

Cycling and Experiencing the Landscape

The Oder–Neiße Cycle Path runs through Friedrichsthal and along the Hohensaaten–Friedrichsthal waterway. The waterway itself runs for 42 kilometres parallel to the Oder until it flows into the Western Oder (Westoder) near Friedrichsthal. These details distinguish the route of the cycle path from the length of the waterway.

Another cycling route is the Crane Cycling Tour. It runs partly without motor traffic through the Lower Oder Valley National Park, Germany’s only floodplain national park and a crane resting area. Viewing towers and the Oder slopes along the route offer ideal conditions for birdwatching. This tour therefore focuses both on the route and on observing the landscape.

From Friedrichsthal, the Crane Cycling Tour leads through a pine forest towards the Teerofenbrücke Wilderness School of the national park. After Friedrichsthal, it runs along the Hohensaaten–Friedrichsthal waterway. If you compare the routes, you will find different focal points here: the Oder–Neiße Cycle Path leads through the village, while the Crane Cycling Tour also combines forest, national park and birdwatching.

Village History and Monuments

The list of monuments of the state of Brandenburg for the district of Uckermark includes the village church in Friedrichsthal, a milestone on the B 2 at kilometre 403.2 and a half-mile stone at kilometre 405.2 near the border house. The village church has a richly carved pulpit from 1700. It comes from St Mary’s Church in Szczecin and was installed in 1834. The settlement of Huguenot families is also part of Friedrichsthal’s history.

The village church and the two pillars represent different aspects of the village’s history: on the one hand, the historic furnishings of the church are remarkable, and on the other, the pillars, with their specific locations, point to the road and route markers in the surrounding area.

Travelling by Bus

Bus connections link Friedrichsthal with Schwedt and Gartz. Before your journey, check the current timetables so that you can plan your arrival and departure.

Gartz (Oder): City Walk and Culture

In the wider area around Friedrichsthal, Gartz (Oder) offers a historic city walk. It presents the town’s history from its Slavic beginnings through the medieval heyday and the Brandenburg-Prussian period to the present-day border town. A folded city map and QR codes on the information boards at the sights make it easier to find your way around the walk.

The Szczecin Gate (Stettiner Tor) in Gartz (Oder) was built from fieldstones in the 13th century and is the only one of the four gates that has been preserved. Construction of St Stephen’s Church also dates back to the 13th century. During the summer months, concerts and events take place at the church in the open air. If you would like to plan your trip around an event, check the specific dates in advance.

In the Lower Oder Valley, the landscape serves as a resting place for cranes in early autumn. Crane Days are held every year at the end of September and/or the beginning of October in Gartz (Oder) and Mescherin, with a programme centred on cranes. Check the event dates if Crane Days are a deciding factor in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Mescherin, Oder-Welse, Gartz, Wolfshagen, Angermünde, Pinnow, Hohenselchow-Groß Pinnow, Schwedt/Oder

For the comprehensive travel overview: Uckermark.