Cycling routes through historic city centers – Route 4

Through the Havelland and the Fläming – bishops, castles and bathing lakes:
The Historic Town Centres Cycle Route No. 4 begins in Potsdam and takes you through Brandenburg an der Havel. It continues along the shimmering Havel lakes to Ziesar Castle and into the forests of the High Fläming region with Wiesenburg Castle and the castles of Rabenstein and Eisenhardt.
Along the way, you'll encounter landmarks like Brandenburg Cathedral, which commemorates the conquest of the March of Brandenburg, learn about the luxurious lives of the bishops in Ziesar Castle Chapel, see towering castle turrets, and discover medieval princely gatherings in the town of Jüterbog. Passing Zinna Monastery and continuing through the asparagus town of Beelitz, your cycling tour finally ends amidst the Potsdam Havelland landscape.
You can also divide the tour into shorter, family-friendly stages. In the warmer months, lakes and outdoor swimming pools offer a refreshing break. For a rest stop, the treetop walkway and barefoot park, or the asparagus and fruit farms along the route, are ideal. City maps and stage maps will help you find your way.  

Length: 305 km / Duration: about four days

Start / Finish: Potsdam

Logo / route sign: Logo with city skyline (purple Route 4)

Arrival Departure:

• Train: From Berlin Zoologischer Garten take the S-Bahn line S7 to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof
• By car: From Berlin via the A115 and Nuthestrasse to Potsdam Central Station

Course: Potsdam, Werder (Havel), Brandenburg an der Havel, Ziesar, Wiesenburg, Bad Belzig, Treuenbrietzen, Jüterbog, Luckenwalde, Beelitz, Potsdam

Note regarding the course: Regardless of the available GPS track, please follow the local cycling signs in the center of Bad Belzig due to the one-way street regulations.

Things to see and know:

• Potsdam: Sanssouci Palace, Sanssouci Park, Dutch Quarter
• Werder (Havel): Island town, Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of Mary Star of the Sea, Bismarckhöhe
• Brandenburg an der Havel: Brandenburg Cathedral, St. Paul's Monastery, St. Gotthard's Church, Old Town Hall with Roland statue and forecourt
• Ziesar: Castle, castle chapel
• Wiesenburg with its historic village center, castle and landscaped park
• Raben with the Hoher Fläming Nature Park Centre and Rabenstein Castle
• Bad Belzig: Eisenhardt Castle, post milestone, St. Mary's Church
• Treuenbrietzen: Local History Museum in the Sabinchenstadt
• Jüterbog: Museum in the Monastery
• Zinna Monastery: monastery museum, weaver museum
• Luckenwalde: Local History Museum, Local Animal Park, Mendelsohn Hall
• Beelitz: Parish churches of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, treetop walkway, barefoot park
• Caputh: Caputh Castle, Einstein House

Possible combinations

• Euroroute R1
• Havel bike path
• Tour Brandenburg

Road condition / route development: No information

Maps / Literature:

• Guidebook for the Historic Town Centers Cycle Route 4 “Through the Havelland and the Fläming – Bishops, Castles and Lakes”, published by terra press, 1st edition (July 2019), ISBN 978-3-942917-43-8, €10,00
• "Potsdam - Havelland - Fläming: Bicycle Map. GPS Accurate", 1:70000, KOMPASS Maps; Edition: 3 (March 1, 2016), ISBN-13: 978-3850262729, €7,99