Erkner combines hiking, lakeside scenery and cultural history. The 66 Lakes Hiking Trail and the Way of St. James pass through the town; there are also shorter and longer routes, as well as themed nature trails. There are several direct access points to the shore of Dämeritzsee, and Rathauspark offers a view of the lake.
Hiking and Enjoying the Lakeshore
The 66 Lakes Hiking Trail and the Way of St. James pass through Erkner. There are also short and longer hiking routes; some trails have been developed into themed learning and discovery trails. The different route lengths help you choose how far to hike, while the themed trails add a particular focus.
Wupatz’s nature trail loops around Wupatzsee in Erkner. This makes it a lakeside loop, while the two long-distance trails mentioned above pass through the town. Dämeritzsee is the largest lake in Erkner; Erkner borders it to the east and south. Pedestrians can access the lake directly at several points, including via lakeside promenades and a recreational area.
In the centre of Erkner is Rathauspark, covering 10,800 square metres. It begins right behind Villa Bechstein, which is now Erkner’s town hall, and offers a view of Dämeritzsee. The lakeshore, nature trail and park thus offer different settings for walks and hikes in the town.
Literary History and Local Museum
Gerhart Hauptmann’s history in Erkner is linked to Villa Lassen. In the autumn of 1885, the writer moved to Erkner with his wife Marie; together, they lived on the villa’s ground floor, which belonged to Nicolaus Lassen. The Gerhart Hauptmann Museum has been housed in Villa Lassen since 1987. Its exhibition on the life and work of the Nobel Prize winner is currently closed; it is scheduled to reopen in 2029.
The listed Museumshof am Sonnenluch is home to the Erkner Local History Museum and an herb and fruit garden. Exhibitions in a renovated barn on the grounds cover trades and commerce in Erkner, the beginnings of the world’s first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, and the development of the chemical industry in Erkner. The focus is therefore on both local working and economic history and the history of a plastic.
The tram depot, with its historic museum vehicles, is also a place to visit: visitor groups can tour it on special occasions and by request.
Weekly Market and Festivals
Fresh, regional products are available at Erkner’s weekly market on Thursdays. The range includes sausages and other meat products, poultry, game, fresh and smoked fish, fruit, vegetables, eggs, honey, plants and specialities. A bakery also offers fresh baked goods from a mobile wood-fired oven. The market day gives you a specific day of the week to plan around if you would like to visit the weekly market.
Erkner’s annual Heimatfest lasts three days and takes place in early summer as an open-air festival. Market stalls and attractions are part of the event, along with a cultural programme and concerts. Dates and programmes may vary; check the details for the year of your trip if you would like to plan your stay around the festival.
The September Kolonistenfest depicts the settlement of Palatine colonists around 1750. Visitors can see costumes from the local history association, stroll through a farmers’ market and watch craftspeople at work. Together, the festivals offer different perspectives: the Heimatfest combines a market with a cultural programme, while the Kolonistenfest focuses on a historic settlement and traditional crafts.
Discover more destinations: Wendisch Rietz, Schöneiche Bei Berlin, Werder, Woltersdorf, Mixdorf, Gosen-Neu Zittau, Spreenhagen, Münchehofe
View the main travel overview: Oder-Spree.
