The Oderbruch on the eastern edge of Brandenburg is made up of vast and fertile landscapes. Formed in the Ice Age, the Oder River has slowly carved its way into this peaceful expanse, creating a fascinating and species-rich floodplain. The valley lies on the border of Poland and has wide meadows, old avenues and typical Oderbruch villages. Further north, begins the Lower Oder Valley National Park, a large protected area that connects Germany and Poland.

The annual flooding of the Oder River and by Prussian colonisation in the mid-18th century shaped this region. The King of Prussia, Frederick the Great or ‘Old Fritz’ as he was known, ordered for the area to be drained, settled and transformed into fertile farmland. This ‘vegetable garden of Berlin’ was connected to the capital via the Oderbruchbahn in 1911. Trains ran between Wriezen, the ‘gateway to the Oderbruch’ in the north, and Fürstenwalde in the south, with 43 stops along the way.

You can follow the tracks of the old Oderbruchbahn on the Oderbruchbahn cycle path. The route traces the course of the former railway line, leading 110 kilometres (68 mi) through the charming landscapes of the Oderbruch. In this Collection, I’ve divided the route into two stages and also planned two extra stages that make this a circular adventure from Erkner.

If you enjoy riding long distances, you can also finish this 210-kilometre (130 mi) route in one go or camp at the Oderaue for a night. If you prefer to take your time, this itinerary is ideal. Each stage ends with accommodation options. You ride mostly on asphalt bike paths and low-traffic country roads with some short sections over cobblestones, which are fine on a road bike.

From Erkner, you follow the meandering Spree on the Spreeradweg through the forests and meadows of the Berlin Urstromtal to Fürstenwalde. The Oderbruchbahn cycle path begins here and takes you on a narrow path across fields and past lakes to Seelow. The section above the Mühlensee in Märkisch-Oderland is particularly scenic, as you ride along the old railroad embankment. Once you reach the Oderbruch near Golzow, it becomes visibly flatter the closer you get to the Oder.

You ride upstream for a few kilometres through the floodplain landscape of the Oder and follow the branch of the Alte Oder in the direction of Wriezen, where the Oderbruchbahn cycle path ends. The route continues through gorges and valleys and deciduous forests of the Märkische Schweiz Nature Park, past Schermützelsee, which lies in the centre of the nature park. On its eastern shore sits the tranquil little town of Buckow, which is always worth a visit. The R1 European Cycle Route then takes you from Garzin to Garzau where you can stop for a swim at Langer See. You pass through the Löcknitz Valley and past the Löcknitz chain of lakes to finally return to Erkner.

Erkner, Fürstenwalde/Spree, Wriezen and Bukow are connected to regional transport networks so you can always shorten a stage or also ride them individually.