Friedland lies between the Spree, Lake Schwieloch and Schlaubetal. In the town centre, you’ll find the church and the castle, which houses the tourist information office, while hiking trails and long-distance cycling routes nearby draw your attention to the surrounding landscape. This offers a range of options for planning your visit: exploring the town, walking or cycling through the area.
Town Centre and Getting Your Bearings
The church and the castle, which houses the Friedland Tourist Information Office, are located in the town centre. The office provides free information about excursions and cultural events; it also sells cycling, waterway and hiking maps. If you need a particular map or document, it’s best to ask in advance what’s currently available. StreleBurg is at the heart of cultural life in Friedland, adding a cultural highlight to the town centre.
Hiking and Cycling around Friedland
Hiking trails and long-distance cycling routes pass through largely unspoilt countryside in the area around Friedland. One route runs in sequence through Friedländer Tal, Zeust and Friedländer Teiche, and continues to Niewisch. This gives you the option of choosing a hike or a longer cycling route with a different itinerary. After poor weather, it’s advisable to check local trail information, as conditions can change on site.
The Lake Schwieloch cycling tour includes Friedland and runs mostly along paved cycle paths and minor roads. A hand-operated ferry connects LeiĂźnitz and Ranzig, shortening the route around Lake Schwieloch for cyclists. The cable ferry in LeiĂźnitz also provides access to Lake Schwieloch and the Spree Cycle Route, which connects to other routes in the Oder-Spree Lake District. Ferry services may vary by season; check the current availability of the crossing before setting out.
Along the Lake Schwieloch cycle route, smoked eel from a local smokehouse is available in Niewisch. As suppliers and their offerings may change, check availability in advance. This culinary tip complements your route planning without requiring you to commit to a particular stage or length of stay.
Other places in the wider Oder-Spree destination
The wider Oder-Spree destination offers other distinct themes. In Bad Saarow, the approximately 1.5-kilometre-long Lesser Promenade follows the lakeshore from Kurpark to Fontanepark. In Neuzelle, the Baroque garden combines historic design with a clearly structured layout: the five-hectare garden was restored according to original plans from the 1758 abbey atlas and features Baroque avenues, water features and terraces.
Also in Neuzelle, the Klosterteich pond lies in the heart of the resort, directly in front of the monastery gates; seating by the pond offers views of the monastery complex. The Strohhaus Neuzelle museum offers insights into the lives of the monastery’s former servants. The Neuzelle Monastery Brewery is the last operating monastery brewery in Brandenburg. Together, the garden, pond, museum and brewery offer a range of themes within this wider destination.
Beeskow Castle is another distinct option for architecture and culture. Its listed complex brings together buildings dating from 1250 to 1550; the 30-metre-high keep has a viewing platform. Since the 1990s, the castle has hosted theatre performances, concerts and festivals. Public guided tours of Beeskow’s historic old town are also available. If you’d like to take one, check the dates before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Kummerow, Herzberg, Wiesenau, Schlaubetal, Langewahl, Neuzelle, Briesen, Storkow.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Oder-Spree.
