Canoe tour "From Griebnitzsee to Glienicke Bridge and back"

Lake Griebnitzsee is part of the picturesque Havel lake district and, with a paddle rental station at the Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station, is an ideal starting point for a tour through Potsdam's parks and palaces – by canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard. Paddling along the southern shore of the lake, you first pass the villa colony of Neubabelsberg. Like beads on a precious necklace, one architectural gem follows another. In the 19th century, those who owned a villa on the southern shore of Lake Griebnitzsee were usually of high standing. The proximity to the film studios also made the villa colony attractive to filmmakers. Among the most famous villas on Lake Griebnitzsee is Villa Urbig, designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and also known as the Churchill Villa. The British Prime Minister resided there during the Potsdam Conference. Today, the property belongs to SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner.
The expansive grounds of Babelsberg Park extend right up to the villa district of Neubabelsberg. The first German Emperor, Wilhelm I, spent his summers in the English-style Babelsberg Palace. He dictated to his neighbors on Lake Griebnitzsee that they should not build their houses "too ostentatious" facing the street, so as not to offend the people. This explains why many villas only reveal their full beauty from the lakeside. The tour's destination is the Glienicke Bridge – during the division of Germany, agents were exchanged here, and in 1989, the reunification was celebrated here.
The return journey leads along the northern shore of the lake. This area is captivating due to its unspoiled nature – with fallen trees and a wide belt of reeds, it offers the ideal habitat for grey herons, cormorants, and beavers.


Duration: about 3 h
Length: about 7 km
Start/Finish: Bicycle and canoe station at the Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station
Arrival/Departure by public transport: Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station