Back Roads Germany (Dk Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

86

Above Brecht-Weigel-Haus, Bertolt Brecht’s

summer retreat

A 90-minute walking tour

From the parking lot, turn left down

to Schulstrasse, left again along

Hauptstrasse, and then look for a

right turn down Erlenweg to the

lovely lakeside promenade. Follow

this around the Buckowsee lake, turn

right at a junction in the path to arrive

at the Brecht-Weigel-Haus 1 (open

Wed–Sun), where the artist couple

Brecht and his wife, Helene Weigel,

spent many summers in the mid-

1950s. It is now a memorial to their

time spent here. The interior of

the house displays rustic furnishings

alongside photo exhibits and the

famous covered wagon used in

Brecht’s play Mother Courage and

Her Children. From the house, follow

Werderstrasse uphill then turn left up

Bertolt-Brecht-Strasse, which climbs

steeply to offer superb lake views.

Buckow’s ritziest homes are found

here. Most are attractive pre-World

War II villas 2 built with Art Nouveau

touches. Turn left down Ringstrasse

and left again on to the shores of the

Schermützelsee, Buckow’s largest lake.

Here, Strandbad Buckow 3 , a popular

swimming beach, provides facilities

as well as opportunities for renting

row boats (www.buckow-online.de/

freizeit/sport/sport.html). The hour-long

lake tours by Seetours (Apr–Oct: open

daily; 033433 232) also begin from here.

A marked path behind and uphill

from the beach leads up the side of

Schlossberg 4 , a small hill that

provides pretty views of the town.

This leads back down to follow the

banks of Griepensee to a small

bridge beside the Schweizer Haus 5 ,

a visitors’ center that has a series of

information boards and interactive

displays about the local ecology and

hiking routes. It faces Lindenstrasse,

which leads to

Königstrasse and into

Buckow’s center 6 ,

with its smattering of

shops. Return to the

parking lot by walking

left along Hauptstrasse

and turning left again

into Schulstrasse.

ª Return to the

B168 and con tinue

to Müncheberg then

to Beerfelde. Follow

the B168, bypass ing

Fürstenwalde, then

turn right on to

Hauptstrasse, follow-

ing signs to Alt

Schadow. Take

Lubbener Strasse,

which becomes

Dorfstrasse to

Schlepzig. Turn left,

go past Krausnick-Gr.

Wasserburg then turn

right to the parking lot

at the Tropical Islands.

VISITING BUCKOW

Parking

The parking lot lies just off Schulstrasse.

Tourist Information

Wrezener Strasse 1a; 033433 575 00;

http://www.kurstadt-buckow.de; open daily

5 Buckow

Brandenburg; 15377

With its rolling hills, trickling streams, and languid lakes, the sleepy

little spa town of Buckow has long been a popular getaway from

Berlin. Poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht was among those drawn

here, spending several summers in an idyllic lakeside cottage.

The house now makes an interesting stop on a walk around the

three lakes between which Buckow nestles.

BACK ROADS GERMANY

WALKING AROUND BUCKOW

For a long walk around Buckow, take

the 5-mile (7.5-km) path bordering the

Schermützelsee. It is well marked and

takes about two hours to complete.

WHERE TO STAY

BUCKOW

Zur Märkischen Schweiz inexpensive

A reasonably priced traditional inn.

Hauptstrasse 73, 15377; 03343 34 64

Bergschlösschen moderate

This late 19th-century villa offers

comfortable rooms with valley views.

Königstrasse 38, 15377; 03343 35 73 12

TROPICAL ISLANDS

Tropical Islands inexpensive–expensive

Visitors can rent a tent or stay in a

lodge on the islands. It is also possible

to sleep on the beach.

Tropical-Islands-Allee 1, 15910,

Krausnick, 15910; 03547 760 50 50;

http://www.tropical-islands.de

AROUND LÜBBEN

Hotel Schloss Lübbenau moderate

Lübbenau’s palace has elegant fin-de-

siècle rooms and a relaxing spa.

Schlossbezirk 6, 03222, Lübbenau

(south of Lübben); 03542 87 30;

http://www.schloss-luebbenau.de

Zur Bleiche expensive

A boutique hotel with luxurious suites.

Bleichstrasse 16, 03096, Burg im

Spreewald (southeast of Lübben); 03560

36 20; http://www.hotel-zur-bleiche.com

Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150

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Pre-World

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Strandbad

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Buckow’s Center