Rauen combines village history with nature destinations in the nearby Rauen Hills. The fortified church shapes the historic character of the village; in the surrounding area you’ll find erratic boulders, an observation tower and several trails. When choosing where to stay, you can first consider whether village history and an annual event, or longer routes and landscape destinations, are your main focus.
Village History at the Fortified Church
The fortified church was probably built in the 13th or 14th century. Together with the farmsteads around the village green, it shaped the village’s appearance until the 18th century. Since 1996, the municipality and local associations have organized an annual Christmas market at the fortified church. The same place is therefore both a historic landmark and the setting for a recurring tradition. If you’d like to plan your trip around the Christmas market, check the date for your chosen year.
Erratic Boulders, Views and Mining History
The Markgrafensteine in the Rauen Hills are the largest erratic boulders in the Mark Brandenburg region. An observation tower has stood there since September 2011; in good weather, the view from the tower reaches as far as Berlin. The boulders provide a striking natural feature, while the tower opens up views across the landscape. The history of underground lignite mining is also part of the story of the Rauen Hills: information boards beside historic mine carts tell its story.
Trails by Distance and Season
Two hiking trails differ in their routes and lengths. The 17-kilometer route passes through the Rauen Hills and connects the Markgrafensteine, the Paulsborn spring and the Rauen Hills observation tower. The Rauen Hills Circular Trail is just under 16 kilometers long and also runs through the hills. The first route names three specific destinations along the way; the second is described as a circular route. You can choose which suits you better: connecting named points or following a loop. Check trail conditions before setting out, as they can vary.
Another way to get active is the Fontanelauf: its circular route goes around the Rauen Hills and can be completed running, hiking or Nordic walking. This Rauen tradition takes place every year on the third Sunday in April. If the event is a deciding factor in your trip, check the date for the year in question. If there is enough snow, you can also ski and toboggan in the Rauen Hills.
More Highlights in the Wider Oder-Spree Destination
The wider Oder-Spree destination offers other distinct highlights. In Bad Saarow, the Lesser Promenade runs for around 1.5 kilometers along the lakeshore, from Kurpark to Fontanepark. In Neuzelle, the five-hectare Baroque garden offers a different kind of attraction: it was restored according to original plans from the 1758 abbey atlas and features Baroque paths, water features and a terrace complex. Across the region, the village and nature destinations around Rauen are complemented by a lakeside path and a landscaped garden. You can choose where to visit based on the themes you’d like to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Fürstenwalde/Spree, Müllrose, Schlaubetal, Tauche, Grünheide, Steinhöfel, Rietz-Neuendorf, Wiesenau
Back to the wider travel overview: Oder-Spree.
