Circular trail in and around Ferch

On this tour in and around Ferch you can find peace and relaxation away from the much-frequented routes and at times you will be virtually alone, so you can immerse yourself in the Ferch woodlands. The hike can end with a cup of Japanese tea in the Bonsai Garden with a view of the Zen Garden.

Distance: 8 kilometres/approximately 2 hours
Start/finish: Gemeindeverwaltung Schwielowsee Ferch, Potsdamer Platz 9
Directions:

• Public transport: take the RE1 (Brandenburg, Magdeburg) from Berlin central station to Potsdam central station (approximately 20 minutes), then take bus 607 to Ferch/Potsdamer Platz
• Car: From Berlin Mitte, follow the A 100 and A115/E51 to L73 in Michendorf, leave the A10, exit L73, Potsdamer Str. to Ferch/Potsdamer Platz

Sights:

• Museum of the Havelland Painters' Colony
• Fisherman's Church
• Wietkiekenberg
• Seewiese/ former Kurhaus and FDGB-Heim
• Japanese Bonsai Garden Ferch
• Old village site
• Former watermill

Route description: The hike starts at the Museum of the Havelland Painters' Colony, which is located in an old Kossätenhaus. The more than 300-year-old Fisherman's Church is located on the opposite street. The building on the corner dates back to 1899 and has long served as a school, as well as the seat of the community. The hike leads left into Burgstraße and further into Lienewitzweg. At the end of the road, the ascent to the Wietkiekenberg beckons, from where you can look far over the Schwielowsee. The lake can be reached via the mountain road. The stairs lead you down to the lake and over the developed shore path to the Seewiese Ferch. Above the Seewiese was the hotel "Kurhaus" Ferch, where Hans Albers already enjoyed Ferch as a day tripper.  From 1959, the Free German Trade Union Confederation (FDGB) took over the building and operated the recreation home "Pierre Semard". The FDGB home shaped the town until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and also brought many foreign guests to Ferch. Over the meadow jetty it goes along the lake to the "Haus am See" and further over the shore path to a gem of Japanese culture - the Japanese Bonsai Garden. At the exit of Ferch turn left into the road, which soon turns into a forest path. After a good kilometer after crossing the main road you will see the small district Kemnitzer Heide. The listed Waldarbeiterhaus was built in 1735/1740 and originally belonged to the Kemnitz estate. On the left behind the house, the path leads you to the cycle path R1 to "Alte Dorfstelle". Finds give clues to a Neo-Bronze Age settlement site. Via the forest path, which leads away from the R1 to the left, you reach the road "Am Sonnenhang", which leads you along the mühlengrund to the former water mill of Rochlitz from the 17th century. Via the road "Am Mühlengrund" you reach the starting point of the hike.

Possible combinations:

• Hike through the Fercher Berge hills
• Fontane Trail F6
• Around Lake Schwielowsee

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