In Kaisermühl, architectural history and canal crossings emerge as two closely connected themes. The manor house, half-timbered house and old oak mark different periods; the ferry and pedestrian and cycle bridge show how the crossing over the Oder-Spree Canal has changed. When planning your trip, you can explore local history, nature along the canal and routes in the region as separate highlights.
Houses, settlement history and an old oak
The historic manor house with its park, known locally as the “castle,” was built between 1790 and 1800. The half-timbered house is considered the oldest house in Kaisermühl; the Hotel Kaisermühle was built on its foundations. The “Kaisermühle” hotel and restaurant was first mentioned in 1604. This date refers to its first recorded mention, not the year the hotel was built. A listed settlers’ house from the 18th century bears witness to the settlement period.
The oak also provides a concrete point of reference in time. The “Old Oak,” next to a war memorial to the people of Kaisermühl who died in the First World War, was planted on 2 May 1872. The oak, also known as the “Peace Oak,” is protected as a natural monument and belongs to the species Quercus robur. In the townscape, you can encounter both architectural history and a connection to the settlement remembered across generations.
The Friedrich Wilhelm Canal and its crossings
The settlement history of Kaisermühl is closely connected with the Friedrich Wilhelm Canal, now known as the Oder-Spree Canal. The navigable waterway was completed between 1662 and 1668; it is about 27 kilometres long and has 13 locks. The canal is therefore not only part of local history, but also provides a broader historical context for the history of bridges and ferries in Kaisermühl.
After the former bridge was blown up in April 1945, a ferry operated from 1945 onwards. It carried passengers year-round until 1990; from 1990 to November 1999, it operated only seasonally. In summer 2007, a new pedestrian and cycle bridge once again connected the previously separated parts of Kaisermühl; it crosses the Oder-Spree Canal. The former ferry landing was turned into a rest area.
Along the Friedrich Wilhelm Canal near Kaisermühl, the waterside landscape feels like an enchanted refuge for plants and animals. The Mönchstour crosses the Oder-Spree Canal in Kaisermühl. In the surrounding region, the NEB excursion route also follows a cycling and hiking trail marked with a red bar along the Friedrich Wilhelm Canal from Müllrose station to Groß Lindow. The routes have different points of reference: the Mönchstour crosses the canal in Kaisermühl, while the NEB excursion route starts at Müllrose station.
Routes in Müllrose
In Müllrose, the Three Lakes Trail runs along the Großer Müllroser See, the Kleiner Müllroser See and the Katharinensee. The route is around 6 kilometres long and starts and ends at the market square. The Schlaubetal Hiking Trail offers a different kind of route: this quality hiking trail, recognised by the German Hiking Association, runs for 25 kilometres through the Schlaubetal from Müllrose to the Wirchensee.
An approximately one-and-a-half-hour paddling trip for the whole family is also described in Müllrose. It runs from the Kleiner Müllroser See via the Oder-Spree Canal to the Katharinensee and through the Katharinengraben. Check the tour’s current availability before making plans. In addition, Schlaubetal Boat Rental in Müllrose offers guided paddling trips with transport; check their availability in advance as well.
For the overall travel guide: Müllrose.
