Oder-Neisse Cycle Route

The Neisse originates in the Czech Jizera Mountains near Nová Ves. This is where Germany’s easternmost cycle path, the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route, begins. From the source, it goes through the mountainous country down to the Czech Republic-Poland-Germany tri-border area. The Saxon town of Zittau, with its baroque townhouses, is a stage destination and not far from the Czech border. The cycle path continues via Hirschfelde with the oldest Saxon lignite power plant, now a technical monument and museum, to St. Marienthal Abbey, the oldest, never-dissolved Cistercian monastery still existing in Germany. Next, you pass the city of Görlitz. Görlitz also became rich as a trading hub and attracts visitors with its carefully renovated old town. Bad Muskau, the last Saxon stop on the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route, received UNESCO World Heritage status for its Prince Pückler Landscape Park fantasy. Beyond Bad Muskau, you cross the Brandenburg state border.

Arriving in the Lusatian Lake District, a paradise reveals itself to cyclists today. In the UNESCO Global Geopark Muskauer Faltenbogen, you discover a fascinating cultural landscape shaped by the Ice Age. Through nature reserves such as the “Märchenwald” (Fairytale Forest), you reach the Rose City of Forst (Lausitz). The over 100-year-old East German Rose Garden enchants visitors not only with the scent of over ten thousand roses but also with its uniqueness in combining garden art, landscape architecture, and botanical diversity. The cycle path leads directly to one of the oldest towns in the Lusatian Lake District – Guben. A detour to the Polish Gubin is recommended here.

In the Oder-Spree Lake District, the Oder-Neisse Cycle Route begins in Ratzdorf, where the Neisse flows into the Oder, and then leads to Hohensaaten. A detour to Neuzelle is worthwhile. The town is closely linked to the Cistercian monks, who built a unique ensemble of baroque church, orangery, and monastery garden there. The “Heavenly Theater” Museum showcases the unique Neuzelle Passion plays and is an attraction of European renown.
A few kilometers further north, you reach Eisenhüttenstadt. The city was built for the steelworks in the 1950s. The houses of the four residential complexes in the “gingerbread style” are becoming increasingly popular as a backdrop for cinema and television films. In the Kleiststadt Frankfurt (Oder), a detour to the Polish neighbors is an option. If you are good on foot, climb the church tower and enjoy the fantastic view over the city. The contrasting program to the cities follows with the Oderbruch between Lebus and Bad Freienwalde. The landscape, drained by Prussian King Frederick II, has a very unique character.
When the Adonis roses bloom around Lebus in spring, the Oder slopes turn a bright yellow.

In Hohensaaten, the Hohensaaten-Friedrichsthaler Waterway begins, along which the cycle path now runs. The shipping canal runs for 42 kilometers parallel to the Oder until it flows into the West Oder near Friedrichsthal. After passing the towns of Lunow and Stolzenhagen, you reach the Uckermark with Germany’s only floodplain national park – the Lower Oder Valley National Park. From a distance, you can already see the Stolper Turm, also known as “Grützpott”, situated high on the hill, with a view of the Lower Oder Valley. The Stolper Turm can be visited on a guided tour. The viewing platform offers a wide view extending to the Polish side of the Oder. In the following village of Criewen is the Visitor Center of the Lower Oder Valley National Park. The exhibition invites you on an exciting excursion into the landscape and its history. Every visitor can become active and discover the secrets of nature on a tour through 13 exhibition areas. The Glass Studio of textile designer Susan Krieger can be found in the Natura 2000 House. She is known for her screen-printed products and her unique and striking designs.

Tip: While thousands of cranes visit the Lower Oder Valley National Park in the fall, hundreds of rare whooper swans lure visitors with their song in January and February. The crane spends several weeks roosting here in the floodplain of the Oder, offering a spectacle every evening. The whooper swan prepares for spring with its bell-like calls before it sets off on its journey to the breeding grounds in northern Europe.

Just a few kilometers further, you reach the National Park City of Schwedt/Oder. The Uckermärkische Bühnen Schwedt invite you to theater, musicals, concerts, and readings all year round. Highlights are the Odertal Festival on the Odertal stage directly on the riverbank from June to September. In Schwedt/Oder, you have the opportunity to switch from bike to canoe and experience the unique nature of the National Park up close. Guided canoe tours can be booked directly at the StroamCamp campsite from July 15 to November 14.

The Oder-Neisse Cycle Route continues via Gartz (Oder) and Mescherin towards the Baltic Sea. From Staffelde, there are connecting options to the Polish metropolis of Szczecin via the “Green Border” or via the West Oder Bridge in Mescherin to nearby Gryfino.

The town of Penkun is the gateway to Western Pomerania. It is surrounded by 7 lakes and a unique, hilly, wild nature that can be explored by bike or on foot. The highlight is the castle with a museum in the middle of the historic old town. The journey continues to Löcknitz, where you have a beautiful view of the Randow lowlands from the keep. Through the “Stettiner Haff” Nature Park, you cycle through heathlands and fishing villages towards the coast. The seaside resort of Ueckermünde invites you with its maritime flair to enjoy fish sandwiches, stroll along the promenade on the lagoon, and visit the museum in the castle – with interesting facts about the town’s and seafaring history. The journey continues to the Hanseatic city of Anklam, nestled in the Peenetal River Landscape Nature Park. In the Hanseatic city and its surroundings, numerous (architectural) historical sights bear witness to its eventful history.

Shortly after Anklam, you reach the island of Usedom. Sandy beaches and dunes characterize the landscape. But Germany’s second-largest island also has its wild sides: rugged cliffs, ancient forests, lonely moors, deep lakes, and small villages that blend into a harmonious unit. In the Usedom Island Nature Park, Mother Nature opens her treasure chest. White-tailed eagles and otters find their original habitat on the Achterwasser.