35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Christmas Magic, New Cycling Tours & Hotel Highlights

Foreign newsletter 10/2024

35 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall

November 9, 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Wall in Germany. To mark this occasion, there is a new TMB website that brings together various excursions - whether on foot or by bike. Because German unity and European unification can still be hiked and “experienced” in numerous places in Brandenburg. For example, at the Glienicke Bridge in Potsdam, where agents were once exchanged, on the Berlin Wall Cycle Path, which goes around the capital, or in the former military town of Wünsdorf in Fläming. In addition, memorial sites throughout the country remind us of recent German history.
One way to experience first hand the growing together of the once divided city of Berlin and today's state of Brandenburg is to take a bike tour along the approximately 160 kilometer long Wall Cycle Path, which also leads through Brandenburg. Further information at www.brandenburg-tourism.com.
European unification is best visible on the Oder border river in the east of Brandenburg. There is a former railway bridge over the Oder, which was restored in a German-Polish joint project and has been a cross-border bicycle and footpath since June 2022. This means there are now a variety of tours on both sides of the border. The tours are presented in detail in an “excursion planner” from the Seenland Oder-Spree Tourism Association, which is available in German and Polish. Available as a PDFor as a bookletto order.

Travel inspiration: The most beautiful Christmas markets in Brandenburg

Neuzeller fairytale Christmas market

Just a few kilometers from the Polish border, the community and the monastery invite you to the Neuzeller fairytale Christmas market on December 7th and 8th, 2024. For several years it has been considered one of the most beautiful in Brandenburg and attracts visitors from near and far. This year too you can immerse yourself in the world of fairy tales over two days. In the fairy tale forest there are well-known and lesser-known fairy tales to discover that delight both children and adults. Mysterious fairytale characters come to life and give the market its unique charm.
There is a lot on offer on both days: there is a wide selection of specialties for small and large appetites, from sweet treats to savory dishes. If you are looking for a Christmas present, you will find a large selection of handmade goods and gift ideas from the numerous craftsmen, hobby artists, clubs and retailers. There is also the opportunity to look over the shoulder of a basket weaver at work and get creative yourself. For the little guests there are pony carriage rides, carousel rides, petting animals and stick bread around the campfire. A special highlight is the performance of the Neuzeller marching band, which in the afternoon musically accompanies a brass group, a trumpet duo and artists from the partner community Zielona Góra to create the Christmas atmosphere.
In the evening, the Neuzell monastery pond and the monastery shine in festive lights and Christmas music can be heard. On Sunday evening, visitors can also expect an impressive fire show.
7.12. (12 p.m. to 7 p.m.), December 8th (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Polish Star Market in Potsdam

In the middle of the city from November 21st. A special Christmas market will take place until December 1st, 2024. The atmospheric Potsdam Star Market in the Kutschstallhof offers an authentic insight into Poland's Christmas traditions. At more than 50 market stalls, Polish artisans show a diverse selection of their creative work, ranging from traditional Christmas decorations, wood carvings, ceramics and leather goods to clothing, glass art and jewelry. The stands can be found not only outdoors, but also in the historic vaulted hall.
For fans of Polish specialties, there is a wide selection of delicacies: from sweet offerings such as candies, gingerbread, waffles and honey to savory dishes such as sheep's cheese, pierogi, cabbage stew and Tatar dishes.
The star festival is accompanied by a colorful stage program by Polish artists. Children are invited to take part in music, theater and dance or to make small gifts in Santa's workshop.
November 29th (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.), November 30th (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.), December 1st. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

Bohemian Christmas market at Weberplatz in Potsdam

Frederick II had the historic weavers' quarter in Potsdam-Babelsberg built as a refuge for Protestant weavers from Bohemia. On Weberplatz, craftsmen, traders, artists and innkeepers present Bohemian traditions. The Bohemian Crystal Fairy and Santa Claus also enchant visitors. One highlight is, among other things, the Bohemian Shepherd's Mass in the Friedrichskirche on Weberplatz. The Pag chamber choir Canticorum iubilo and the Quattro Corde orchestra with an outstanding ensemble of soloists will give a concert on November 30th. at 4 p.m. 29.11 to 1.12. and 6.12. until December 8th,

Christmas market on the market square in Eberswalde

Eberswalde is located 50 kilometers northeast of Berlin and has become an insider tip with its Christmas market. The Christmas market opens with a lantern parade with the Snow Queen. The meeting point is on Friday, November 29th at 4:30 p.m. at Karl-Marx-Platz. At 6 p.m. Santa Claus welcomes the guests and opens the gates to the Christmas market on the market square. Christmas goods, gift items, mulled wine as well as culinary specialties and sweet treats from regional suppliers are on offer there. Another highlight is the cutting of the giant tunnel. On Saturday, Santa Claus arrives at the train station and drives in his carriage to the Christmas market in the center of Eberswalde. He is accompanied by many children and their families. Over ten days, the Christmas market offers a lot of culture for all age groups, with daily changing activities for fun and games. There are special crafts for children with wood, handicrafts, including from Poland, as well as various food stalls.
November 29th (5 p.m. - 9 p.m.), November 30th and December 1st (12 p.m. - 9 p.m.), December 2nd - 5th (12-8 p.m.), December 6th (12-9 p.m.)

Christmas market of a thousand stars in Cottbus

Cottbus is located in the south of Brandenburg on the border with Poland. During Advent, Moravian stars in the Cottbus colors of red and white traditionally transform the Christmas market and the city center into a radiant sea of stars. Many retailers in the city center decorate their shop windows with these Christmas stars, giving the city a harmonious and festive appearance. The 14-meter-tall Christmas tree on the Altmarkt is decorated with more than 1,000 Herrnhut stars. And the three-story Christmas pyramid shines in festive splendor. Visitors can look forward to a variety of stalls offering a wide range of handmade crafts, festive decorations and culinary delights. The scent of mulled wine, roasted almonds and other traditional delicacies fills the air and invites you to linger. November 25th - December 23rd, (11 a.m. to 7 p.m., food stalls until 9 p.m.)
more information do you find here: www.brandenburg-tourism.com/events/christmas-markets

Barrier-free nature experiences on the Elbe: BUND visitor center starts sustainable excursions with solar boat “Smüster Elw”

Since August of this year, the BUND Burg Lenzen visitor center in Prignitz in northeast Brandenburg has been offering barrier-friendly excursions on an environmental education boat. Guests in wheelchairs, with strollers or walkers have the opportunity to experience the Elbe meadows that are worth protecting from the water. This was made possible by a donation from the German Postcode Lottery as part of the “Elbe in sight: A boat for the Elbe” project.
The innovative solar boat stands for sustainable excursions and educational trips in the UNESCO Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve. It impressively shows that solar-electric drive concepts are ideal for inland waters. The boat glides almost silently over the river and offers sustainable nature experiences without polluting the environment.The barrier-free aluminum catamaran offers space for up to 15 people and can be arranged flexibly. It was christened “Smüster Elw”, which in Prignitz Low German means “appreciating the Elbe”.
The BUND Burg Lenzen Visitor and Floodplain Center has been committed to nature conservation and the preservation of the river landscape for 30 years. With the new solar boat, the center is expanding its offering and delighting both locals and tourists.

New cycle routes in Brandenburg explore industrial history

From the north-east of Brandenburg, across the middle to the region south of Berlin, new cycle routes invite you to follow in the footsteps of industrial history. The Museum Association of the State of Brandenburg e.V. has developed eight day tours of between 20 and 50 kilometers together with the Brandenburg Industrial Culture Tourist Network. Along old transport routes you go past lakes, rivers and canals to impressive industrial monuments and interesting museums. Highlights include the Niederfinow ship lifts, the Oderbruch European cultural heritage site and the Eisenhüttenstadt area monument. For each tour there is a flyer with a map, GPS data, sights, interesting facts about industrial culture, leisure and refreshment options. The starting points are the towns of Altranft, Baruth, Eberswalde, Eisenhüttenstadt, Fürstenwalde/Spree, Ludwigsfelde, Oderberg and Velten. Tour tips can be found at brandenburg-tourism.com.

New gastro team anchors at the Schwedt river campsite StroamCamp.

The restaurant “Anker & Platz” in the StroamCamp water tourism center in Schwedt (Oder) has been welcoming its guests since July 2024.
In addition to a varied breakfast, the restaurant serves creative and fresh dishes every day. Guests have the choice between à la carte offerings made from regional and seasonal ingredients or can become active themselves. Under professional guidance, families, friends or colleagues have the opportunity to cook together and try out new recipes.
“Of course, our guests can also simply relax with a cup of coffee or a cold beer and leave the kitchen to the professionals. We’re excited to see who finds the courage to take the wooden spoon into their own hands,” says Ireen Mieczkowski from KostKutscher GmbH, which runs the restaurant.
It is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Further information at: stromcamp.de

Hotel openings in Brandenburg

360° team spirit resort

Located in the heart of the Dahme-Heidesee Nature Park, the 360° Teamgeist Resort is an oasis of relaxation and inspiration. It offers teams and groups the ideal setting to harmoniously combine work and leisure time. The spacious location by the water is an inspiring place for meetings and workshops, including modern overnight accommodation, creating the conditions for productive work and relaxed relaxation.
With 23 individually designed apartments in Scandinavian design and three inspiring meeting rooms, 360° offers space for families, companies and groups looking for tailor-made events and programs. Whether it's offsite team meetings, strategy workshops or team building programs lasting several days - on two hectares of space there are numerous opportunities to gain inspiration, strengthen the sense of unity and develop new ideas.
In addition to the apartments, guests have access to an event tent and a spacious event area. Events can take place here in an environment that not only promotes exchange, but also enables creative development.
The 360° is a place to balance work and leisure while enjoying Brandenburg's nature. Further information at: 360-teamgeist.com

New hotel complex opens at Tropical Islands theme park

The Tropical Islands, Brandenburg's largest leisure resort, located just 60 kilometers east of Berlin, has had a new hotel complex with around 150 rooms since June 2024. The additional 500 overnight spaces increase the resort's total capacity to almost 3,500 beds. According to Tropical Islands, about 1.2 million guests come annually. With around 550 employees, the amusement park is one of the largest employers in the region. The five-story new building, erected in less than a year, was constructed using modular construction. The hotel rooms of the Tropical Islands Resort are located on the east side of the cathedral and are directly connected to it by a corridor. The air-conditioned rooms of the “OHANA Lounge” are furnished in a Hawaiian-Polynesian style. Different room types are adapted according to the needs of guests. The facilities include a bathroom with shower/toilet, some with a bathtub. In the “OHANA Town” entertainment area on the ground floor there are bowling alleys, darts, billiards, a karaoke box, the OHANA restaurant and a bar.
The Tropical Islands, Brandenburg's largest leisure resort, is located just 60 km east of Berlin and has had a new hotel complex with around 150 rooms since June 2024. This increases the resort's total capacity to almost 3,500 beds. Around 1.2 million guests visit Tropical Islands every year. With around 550 employees, the resort is one of the largest employers in the region.
The five-story new building was built using modular construction in less than a year. The hotel rooms in the “OHANA Lounge” are located on the east side of the large hall (“Dome”) and are directly connected to it by a corridor. The air-conditioned rooms are decorated in a Hawaiian-Polynesian style and tailored to various guest needs. The facilities include a bathroom with shower and toilet, and in some rooms there is also a bathtub. In the “OHANA Town” entertainment area on the ground floor there are bowling alleys, darts, billiards, a karaoke box as well as the OHANA restaurant and bar.
The Tropical Islands Resort offers its guests a variety of inclusive services. These include water slides, the Tropino Club for children, a shuttle bus and the AMAZONIA outdoor area. Guests also have access to the sauna and SPA areas, the fitness club and the Jungle Splash water park. The tropical world is also included in the offer. These services are available to visitors throughout their stay. Further information at Tropical Islands.de.

New in Bernau: The H24 city hotel

The H24 Stadthotel Bernau opened just outside Berlin in September. The digital concept allows guests to arrive around the clock, free high-speed WiFi throughout the entire building and a professionally equipped seminar room with a digital whiteboard. As a certified bicycle hotel, the H24 is an ideal starting point for tours through the Brandenburg countryside. It offers a lockable bicycle parking space, charging stations for e-bikes, a workroom with a workbench and compressor, as well as insider tips on the region's most beautiful cycle paths. The house has spacious double rooms that are air-conditioned and equipped with blackout blinds, smart TV with streaming, floor-to-ceiling showers and soundproofing. The varied breakfast buffet ensures a good start to the day. The evening can end comfortably in the BernauBAR, where, for example, regional beer from the “Bernauer Braugenossen” is offered. The highlight of the house is the luxurious SUITE with an 80 m² roof terrace. It offers a great view of Bernau and is the perfect place for special occasions. More information at H24Hotels.com.

Expanded range of holiday homes and apartments in Brandenburg

Danish design in the Uckermark

The Danish platform “Landfolk” now also offers hand-picked holiday homes in the northern part of Brandenburg, the Uckermark. Landfolk has an exclusive selection of unique holiday homes that are not available elsewhere. Each house is carefully selected by the Landfolk team and presented with great attention to detail. This also includes the “Haus Hedwig”, which has been around since 2022 and was designed by the Danish architect Sigurd Larsen. Haus Hedwig combines minimalist design with an inviting ambience. The ground floor living area with stone floors offers a view right up to the peaked roof, creating a special atmosphere. The dark color concept of the facade also extends into the interior and creates a harmonious connection with the bright color accents, such as the banana palm and the light wooden kitchen. Large windows allow views outside and provide a welcome contrast to the urban surroundings. More information at landfolkand Haus Hedwig.

Palais Brut – modernized prefabricated building from the GDR

WBS 70, that was the name of the modular panel construction in the GDR. The converted and modernized “Palais Brut” is located in the Seenland-Oder-Spree, east of Berlin, and can now also be found as a new addition to the portal https://www.urlaubsarchitektur.de/en/palais-brut/. At first glance, the Palais Brut shows its historical substance, while modern adjustments have been made to the interior. Walls and ceilings were changed and window openings were enlarged to allow more light into the rooms. The former semi-detached houses have been converted into two holiday apartments of different sizes, which offer unobstructed views over the garden and the surrounding fields. The larger apartment, a duplex with 130 square meters, has a fully equipped kitchen, an open living and dining area, three double bedrooms, a gallery with a daybed and two bathrooms, and can accommodate up to ten people. The smaller studio of 55 square meters is ideal for couples and has its own terrace. There is also a sauna house in the garden for shared use.

The Chipp – new in Bad Saarow

Bad Saarow is around an hour's drive east of Berlin. A modern, stylish retreat has been created here on the banks of the Scharmützelsee.
The minimalist building was designed by the renowned architect Sir David Chipperfield and was built in 2023. The apartment offers thoughtful details and plenty of space for up to eight people. It has three bedrooms, including a child-friendly room, two bathrooms, a spacious, fully equipped kitchen, as well as a living area with a fireplace and a sunny terrace.
With a view of Scharmützelsee, the design apartment combines stylish living with an inviting family atmosphere, ideal for shorter or longer stays. Guests enjoy the tranquility of a holiday apartment and at the same time benefit from upscale hotel amenities, including a SPA area, pool, fitness room and direct access to the beach. Further information at: www.thechipp.de/en

Neupitz

A nature-loving workation resort has been created from a former bungalow holiday resort on Lake Teupitz near Berlin. Workation allows you to combine work and vacation by working in an attractive location that is not tied to a fixed workplace, while enjoying the benefits of a relaxing environment.
In Neupitz, in addition to individual work and flexible leisure activities, a balanced diet is the top priority. The concept is based on meeting guests' different working styles. Every person works differently – and Neupitz offers the right setting. Whether at rest or in exchange with others, sitting or standing, early risers or late workers - the work options are designed flexibly so that everyone has their own productive environment finds.
When working, the guest's needs are the focus: fully equipped workstations, various retreats, high-speed Internet, ergonomic chairs and useful tools such as flipcharts, Post-Its and laptop stands enable optimal working conditions.
Quiet and cozy rooms ensure a restful sleep: guests can choose between bungalows, single rooms or glamping tents. The equipment focuses on the essentials: towels, bed linen, sleeping mask, hot water bottle and hairdryer.
When it comes to eating, the aim is for guests to go through the day strengthened: three freshly prepared meals are offered every day at fair prices. The ingredients for this are selected as seasonally as possible. If you prefer to cater for yourself, you can cook in the fully equipped kitchen. In addition, the trust fridge offers local and sustainable drinks, also at fair prices, and basic groceries are available in the in-house shop. Groups have the option of taking a picnic basket filled with homemade delicacies with them on excursions. There are a variety of opportunities for relaxation during the breaks: whether it's a sun salutation with a view of the lake, writing in a diary on the terrace or a group workout in the forest - everyone can decide for themselves how they want to spend their breaks. For the brave, there is the opportunity to cool off in the lake at midday - regardless of the season. Further information at: www.neupitz.de/en

Successful first half of 2024 for tourism in Brandenburg

In the first half of 2024, Brandenburg recorded a total of 6.4 million overnight stays and 2.5 million guest arrivals in its accommodation facilities and campsites. This corresponds to an increase of 1.9 percent in overnight stays and 5.3 percent in guest arrivals compared to the previous year. This made the first half of 2024 the most successful in the history of Brandenburg tourism.
There was particularly strong growth in the categories of hotels (+3.5 percent), holiday homes and apartments (+8.8 percent) and campsites (+8.9 percent). Regions such as the Spreewald, the Oder-Spree lake district and the Dahme-Seenland recorded the highest number of overnight stays. The number of overnight stays from abroad also increased by 4.2 percent, with Poland being the most important source market. The off-season offers potential for growth. For the communication measures in the coming months, the TMB was once again able to win over the DB Regio Nordost as a cooperation partner in order to jointly promote offers including sustainable travel by train.
The TMB also relies on collaboration with partners in foreign marketing. In July, she and the German National Tourist Board hosted seventeen influencers from eleven countries for three days. The thematic occasion is the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In September, the TMB presented the state of Brandenburg at a multi-day roadshow organized by the Berlin-Brandenburg airport company in western Poland, to which tour operators and the media were invited.