The wet meadows west of Brück are one of the last places in Germany where the great bustard still lives. These heavy, turkey-sized birds, among the heaviest flying birds in the world, strut across the fields of the Belziger Landschaftswiesen, and conservationists have worked for decades to protect them, with observation towers where visitors can watch them display in spring. Even if you do not see one, the meadows, with their big skies and wide horizons, are worth a pause.
Brück is a small town on the edge of the meadows, with a church and a few shops. The surrounding landscape is a mix of wet grassland, fields and forests, crossed by the little Plane river. To the south-west lies Bad Belzig, with its castle, Burg Eisenhardt, and its thermal spa, and beyond it the hills of the Hoher Fläming, the highest part of the Fläming ridge, with forests, valleys and villages.
As for the riding, it is relaxed and peaceful. The roads are flat or gently rolling, with long straights across the meadows and gentle curves through the villages and forests. Traffic is light, but the roads can be windy, and agricultural vehicles are common. Watch for wildlife, sand on the road and cobbles in the villages. In spring and autumn, cranes and geese gather in the meadows, and their calls fill the air.
For fuel and a sit-down meal, head for Bad Belzig or Beelitz, because Brück itself offers very little. Beelitz, to the east, is famous for its asparagus, harvested in spring and sold at roadside stalls. The Fläming forests lie to the south, with quiet roads and skating trails.