During the years of East Germany, the name Wandlitz meant something sinister to many citizens. In a guarded estate in the forest near the lake lived the members of the ruling Politburo, Erich Honecker among them, cut off from the population behind walls and guard posts, with access to Western goods that ordinary people could only dream of. When the estate was opened after the fall of the Wall in 1989, people were surprised by its modest, almost petty privileges. Today, the houses are part of a clinic, and the forest has reclaimed its quiet.
Wandlitz itself is a pleasant lakeside community north of Berlin, set in the Barnim nature park, with the Wandlitzsee and other lakes surrounded by forests. The lakes are clear and popular for swimming in summer, with beaches, boat hire and cafés. The landscape is part of the Barnim plateau, shaped by the glaciers of the last Ice Age, with gentle hills, forests of pine and beech, and many lakes.
The riding here is relaxed and pleasant. The roads wind through the forests and along the lakes, with gentle curves and occasional hills. Traffic can be heavy on summer weekends, when Berliners come out to the lakes, and the roads near the motorway can be busy. Keep an eye out for sand on bends, animals at the edges of the day and stretches of old cobblestone.
Wandlitz has fuel stations, shops, cafés and restaurants, making it a convenient stop. A swim in the lake or a coffee by the water makes a pleasant break on a hot day. The Uckermark lies to the north, a land of rolling hills, lakes and empty roads.