November 2001 - Nr. 11
The Golden Centre
between the Elbe, Havel and Spree:
The Fläming vacation region
DZT - Whoever has once seen an sunrise or sunset over the Blankensee, has cycled through the ancient Baruth Valley or strolled through medieval towns on the trail of history will always return to Fläming, the golden centre between the Elbe, Havel and Spree.
Visitors should take their time when they make an exploratory tour here. The vacation region in the city triangle Berlin, Magdeburg and the Luther city Wittenberg is surprising for its many peculiarities and variety of leisure activities.
Smallest middle mountain in Germany:
the Hohe Fläming Nature Park
For example, the Hohe Fläming Nature Park, some 42 miles southwest of Berlin, is attractive. With around 30 residents per square kilometre, it is one of the most thinly populated areas of Germany.
An area of almost 205,000 acres encompasses a colourful mosaic of fields, meadows and forests full of mushrooms. Glass-clear spring water feeds a network of streams, living space for the tasty Fläming trout and the endangered brook crawfish.
The Hohe Fläming is often referred to as "the smallest middle mountain in Germany." Notably, the highest rise in the North German flatlands is the 656-foot Hagelberg located here.
To the Northeast, the Fläming falls away into the ancient Baruth Valley. This damp flatland, the Belzig meadow, is one of the most important brooding meadows in Brandenburg – it is the last German refuge for the great bustard, the largest flying bird in Europe.
Huge stones, dry valleys, knights’ castles
The border between Prussia and Saxony was always an historic region. One finds traces of Slavic as well as Flemish settlements.
Ruins are witnesses of war marches and devastation. Postal milestones tell of the Saxon rule. Structures of villages such as villages built around squares and ribbon-built villages can still be recognized today.
Many fieldstone churches and castles provide information about medieval history, old farm houses can be discovered. The Flemish costume has also been retained.
Bicycle- and hiking tours lead through the dry valleys – post-Ice Age dry valleys several miles long and up to 65-foot-tall precipices – past huge stones, the gigantic fieldstones that in the movement of the Ice Age glaciers were transported from Scandinavia as far as Fläming.
The mill as car dealership
The waters of the Rossel move the big mill wheel, a huge hammer starts to swing and smashes down with immense strength on the anvil.
A visitor to the "Thiessen Copper Hammer" monument to technology learns about the manufacture of copper kettles as it was done for more than 400 years. The copper hammer in Thiessen is one of the many mills in Fläming.
All types of mills are represented in the region, including winch windmills, Holland mills, water mills driven by turbine engines, motorized mills and the specialty that is unique in Europe, the shed windmill of Saalow.
Today they are being used as grinding mills, as show mills, as registry offices, cafes and pensions as well as restaurants and bowling alleys, for energy production and even as a car dealership.
Where Tetzel kindled the Reformation
Jüterbog believes its legends. The Smith and the Devil, Jutta and the Goat, Father and the Cudgel, Bells, the White Lady – every fairy tale, every saga must really have happened.
The old Fläming town tells of its past at every step. The heart of the city beats in the mighty double towers of the St. Nicholas Church.
It was here in 1517 that the Dominican Johann Tetzel kindled the Reformation with his trade in indulgences. One can still see the Tetzel chest in this church, which is itself worth seeing.
In the cities Beelitz, Belzig, Coswig, Dahme, in Treuenbrietzen, Zerbst, in the Zinna Cloister and in the castles and fortresses – the historic past can be felt everywhere.
The Dahme Lake Region
In the midst of the varied forest and lake landscape southeast of Berlin, small excursion spots and picturesque villages attract nature and water-hungry vacationers and day-trippers.
The Dahme Lake Region, with its 70 lakes, rivers and canals, is among the most attractive water-sports areas in Brandenburg. With paddle-, sail-, electric- or motorboat, water sports fans can get to know the loveliest side of the Dahme country.
Bathing fun and all kinds of leisure activities are also available on the Motzen Lake, around the Mellen Lake, at the Körba Pond and in the ancient Nuthe Valley.
Information: Fläming Tourismus, Postfach 1113, D-14801 Belzig. Tel. 033841-30410. Fax 30411. Interne: www.flaeming-tourismus.de .
