Marienwerder is a small village north of Berlin, set among forests and canals in the Barnim district. The landscape here is shaped by water, both natural and man-made. The Oder-Havel Canal, which links the two rivers, passes close by, as does the older Finow Canal, built in the early seventeenth century and often described as the oldest artificial waterway in Germany that is still navigable. Its locks and towpaths are a charming reminder of the past.
The forests around Marienwerder are part of the Barnim plateau, a region of moraines and lakes left by the last Ice Age. Pine dominates, but there are also stands of beech and oak, and the lakes are clear and quiet. To the north, the Schorfheide, once a royal and later a political hunting ground, is a vast forest home to deer, wild boar and eagles. In autumn, the trees turn gold and the air is filled with the calls of cranes.
Riding in this area is peaceful. The roads are quiet, winding through forests and along canals, with occasional gentle hills. Some of the smaller roads are narrow and tree-lined, and cobbles still appear in villages. Traffic is light, especially on weekdays. Be careful at dawn and dusk, when wildlife is most active.
Marienwerder has limited services, so plan to get fuel and supplies in Eberswalde, the nearest larger town, or in Bernau to the south. The canal locks make good photo spots, and a picnic by the water is a fine way to spend a break. Onward, the way continues north towards the Uckermark, a region of rolling hills and lakes that is among the most sparsely populated in Germany.