Hiking in the footsteps of Paul Gerhardt between Berlin and the Spree Forest
From May 2019, hikers can follow in the footsteps of the famous hymn poet from the centre of Berlin through the Dahme-Seenland to the Spreewald. 140 kilometres of trail and hundreds of golden hiking signs connect charming landscapes and historic places on 9 hiking stages.
Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) was a Protestant pastor and a great hymn writer. His songs are sung all over the world, e.g. "Geh aus mein Herz, und suche Freud", "Befiehl du deine Wege" or "Nun ruhen alle Wälder". Based on the places where Paul Gerhardt lived and worked, Berlin Nikolaikirche, Mittenwalde St. Moritz Kirche and Lübben Paul Gerhardt Kirche, the district of Dahme-Spreewald, together with the tourism associations Dahme-Seen e.V. and Spreewald e.V., have developed a hiking trail, the town of Lübben (Spreewald) / Lubin (Błota) and other partners from the region, developed a new offer for hiking enthusiasts.
Current information
There is currently a diversion on the Paul Gerhard hiking trail in Leibsch due to construction work.
The newly designed and signposted Paul Gerhardt Trail connects the most important stages in the life of the great hymn poet, including Lübben (Spreewald), Mittenwalde and the Nikolai Church in Berlin-Mitte.
The route leads over 140 kilometres from the centre of Berlin through the Dahme-Seenland to the Spreewald , where hikers can learn a lot about Paul Gerhardt's life story in stages that can be flexibly divided.
Each stage is designed in such a way that the starting and end points can be easily reached by train. Further information on the Paul Gerhardt Trail is available at the tourist information offices in Lübben (Spreewald), Königs Wusterhausen, Berlin Köpenick and on the internet at www.paul-gerhardt-weg.de.
With its charming water labyrinths, wet meadows and alder swamp forests, the Spreewald is a valuable habitat for nature and biodiversity. Learn more about nature conservation via this link from the biosphere reserve or on our overview.
