Brandenburg Monastery Trail

Hiking tours

Length: 125 km

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Length: 125 km

The Brandenburg Monastery Trail covers around 125 kilometres and connects former Cistercian monasteries and numerous village and town churches in an idyllic landscape rich in lakes. It invites you to follow in the footsteps of the heritage of this Christian order and find peace and inner contemplation. Historic monastery complexes as well as educational and show gardens are open to all interested visitors. Ideal for active nature lovers and anyone looking for a break from everyday life!

The pilgrimage route also offers spiritual experiences: from open churches to opportunities for dialogue. A pilgrim's blessing is given at some places and pilgrim's passes are also available.

Start: Fürstenberg/Havel
Destination: Fürstenberg/Havel

Length: 125 km

Course: Fürstenberg/Havel - Himmelpfort - Zehdenick - Gransee - Lindow (Mark) - Rheinsberg - Fürstenberg/Havel

Route description: From Fürstenberg/Havel, the route follows well-surfaced paths for eight kilometres through woods and meadows between two lakes to the former Cistercian monastery of Himmelpfort. The monastery was founded in 1299, and today the ivy-covered brick arches of the ruins attract interested visitors. From Himmelpfort, the route first leads south over the lock bridge, 37 kilometres along the water to the Zehdenick town harbour. The wonderful grounds of the former Cistercian monastery dating back to 1250 can be accessed via Klosterstraße - another exciting monastery ruin with a chequered history. The north wing houses a museum with a café. The outdoor area with its diverse herb garden and orchard is accessible all year round. The route continues via Gransee to Lindow (Mark), 34 kilometres away. In Gransee, not only the surrounding town wall and St Mary's Church, built in 1250 and 1525, are worth seeing, but also the former Franciscan monastery from the 13th century. The route continues through woodland and along riverside paths to Lindow (Mark) Monastery. A Jewish-Christian-Muslim ‘Garden of the Book’ is run in the monastery complex dating back to 1234, which is open all year round and is home to plants found in the holy scriptures of the three Abrahamic religions. After another 21 kilometres, there is no monastery in Rheinsberg, but instead a castle next to the lake and the Protestant St. Laurentius Church. The last 29 kilometres lead through the Brandenburg Lake District back to Fürstenberg/Havel.

Logo / route marker: a white stylised shell on a wine-red background with the inscription ‘Brandenburgischer Klosterweg’

Arrival / Departure:
Public transport: The train stations Fürstenberg/Havel and Gransee are served hourly by the RE 5 from Elsterwerder via Berlin to Rostock or Stralsund. Flixbus operates the route Leipzig - Fürstenberg/Havel - Stralsund.

The RB 54 runs to Rheinsberg or Lindow (Mark), the RB 12 to Zehdenick.
By car: Fürstenberg/Havel and Gransee have a direct connection to the Bundesstraße 96, which takes about an hour to reach Berlin.

Possible combinations: Pilgrimage trail "Mecklenburg Lake District"

Literature: Further tips and inspiring texts can be found in the brochure ‘Himmlische Touren durch Brandenburg’ (Susanne Atzenroth) published by the 'Amt für kirchliche Dienste' (AKD)