Wildlife park hiking trail with a view of Bayrisches Haus

On this hike you roam the historic wildlife park with its old trees, rustic oaks and beeches. Enjoy the tranquility of the forest and take the time to take a deep breath.

Distance: 8 kilometres, walking time approximately 2 hours

Start/finish: Schwielowsee OT Geltow

Directions:

• Public transport: take the RE1 (Brandenburg, Magdeburg) from Berlin central station to Potsdam central station (approximately 20 minutes), then take bus 631 (direction: Werder/Havel) to Getlow/Schäfereistrasse. After getting off the bus, cross at the lights and follow Schäfereistrasse for 600 metres
• Car: From Berlin-Mitte, take the A 100 and A115 in the direction of Potsdam until the Potsdam junction, turn off for Potsdam Zentrum, carry on along Zeppelinstrasse to Geltow and then turn left to the Schäfereistrasse

Sights:

• Schäfereiberg
• Historical Bayrisches Haus (only from the outside)
• Wildlife park with historic paths as designed by Lenné
• Historical Forsthaus Südtor (only from the outside)
• Lake Petzinsee

Route description:
You start the hike in the Schäfereistraße by crossing the main road into the Meiereistraße and turn right at a striking oak tree into a slightly ascending forest path. Follow the path to the right again, which after a few hundred meters branches off into a path rising to the left. Use this trail to get to the top of Schäfereiberg. You walk on this ridge path and soon reach the "Bavarian House". King Frederick William IV gave it to his wife, who longed for her old homeland, and used it as a hunting lodge. You cross the paved access road and go downhill to the left at the fence and dive into a wildly romantic forest. The path leads into a wide avenue lined with rustic oaks and beeches. It is the "Große Hirschweg", a still preserved path from the time of Lenne's park design of 1840. From 1842, the 870 ha large forest area was fenced, provided with 3 forest gate houses and with abundant wild stock. You walk along this historic path to the right to the railway line that has cut up the wildlife park. Keep to the right on the path directly at the railway tracks and turn right at the first possibility. After a few meters follow the path to the left and reach the Forsthaus Südtor. Here you cross the B1. On the other side, a narrow footpath winds through a beautiful beech forest, along the Gaisberg until you reach the railway line. Turn right and reach Petzinsee. Through the "Wentorfstraße" you reach the starting point of the hike.

Possible combinations:

• Hike in and around Geltow
• Round Lake Schwielowsee through Caputh, Ferch and Petzow
• Hiking trail around Lake Templiner See

Maps/Literature: 

• ​KOMPASS Wanderkarte Havelland, 4in1 Wanderkarte, 1:50000 mit Aktiv Guide und Detailkarten inklusive Karte zur offline Verwendung in der KOMPASS-App., ISBN: 978-3-99044-255-5, Verlagsnummer: WK 745’
• Grünes Herz: Rad-, Wander- und Gewässerkarte Havelseen 3: Werder, Potsdam: Mit Fahrland, Glindow, Geltow, Caputh, Ferch, Michendorf. Maßstab 1:35.000. ISBN: 978-3-86636-116-4