Every spring, when the fruit trees blossom, Werder throws one of the biggest parties in Brandenburg. The Baumblütenfest, the tree blossom festival, draws huge crowds to taste the local fruit wines, and the town on its island in the Havel becomes a sea of people, music and stalls. For the rest of the year, Werder is a pretty, quiet town, with an old centre on the island, a church, a windmill and views over the water.
The area around Werder has been a fruit-growing region for centuries, supplying Berlin with apples, cherries, pears and plums. The orchards cover the hills around the town, and in spring, the blossom is a wonderful sight. The town also has one of the northernmost vineyards in Germany, on the Wachtelberg, and its wines have a small but loyal following. From the hills above the town, the view stretches over the Havel and its lakes, with Potsdam and the towers of Berlin on the horizon.
From the saddle it is relaxed and pleasant. The roads wind through the orchards and along the lakes, with gentle curves and occasional hills. Traffic can be heavy in the town and during the festival, and the old centre has cobbled streets. The roads towards the Havelland and the Zauche, to the west and south, are quieter and offer more open riding.
Werder has fuel stations, shops, cafés and restaurants, and many places serve local fruit wines and juices. A coffee on the island, followed by a walk to the windmill, makes a lovely break. The Uckermark lakes lie far to the north, on the other side of Berlin.