Germany’s Oderlandweg — explore Brandenburg's Little Thuringia

The well-marked Oderlandweg is one of only eight hiking routes in Germany’s federal state of Brandenburg that have been awarded the seal 'Qualitätsweg Wanderbares Deutschland'. It’s one of my favourite of these award-winning routes, as the scenic variety is fantastic while the total distance of the circular route remains manageable. You can complete the Oderlandweg on a long weekend from Berlin or Bad Freienwalde, and very ambitious hikers may even need only two stages for the, almost, 70 kilometre (44 mi) journey.

Included in the Oderlandweg is part of the beautiful chain of lakes in the Gamengrund; the low-mountainous section between Falkenberg and Bad Freienwalde; the idyllic Cöthen mountain park with its waterfall; and the rolling hills of the Biesdorfer Kehlen towards the Oderbruch. The German novelist Theodor Fontane was always drawn to this area; unfortunately, he did not live to see curiosities such as Germany's northernmost ski jump.