The best MTB trails around Kuhzer Lake

To be reached via a singletrack trail.

A great backdrop is offered to bridal couples in Boitzenburg. With a view of the castle, it has been possible to get married there since 2023. The Apollo Temple was erected in 1855. Adolf Heinrich von Arnim-Boitzenburg commissioned the construction of the octagonal Apollo Temple with a domed roof. It replaced the dilapidated predecessor building. Previously, a statue stood in the middle of the temple, which is said to still lie half-unharmed buried in the mud of the Small Carp Pond below the Apollo Temple.

In Greek mythology, the god Apollo (also known as Apollon) was associated, among other things, with the famous Oracle of Delphi. According to tradition, the last oracle pronouncement of the Pythia (the title of the resident seer/fortune-teller) in the second half of the fourth century – that is, when Christianity was spreading – is said to have been: “Tell the king, the beautifully built house has fallen. Phoibos Apollo has no refuge anymore, the sacred laurel withers, his springs are silent forever, the murmuring of the water is stilled.”

The Hardenbeck church is a fieldstone building originally dating from the 13th century, first mentioned probably in 1271 in connection with the founding of the Cistercian monastery of Boitzenburg. During the Thirty Years' War, the village, including the church, was destroyed in 1634, and Hardenbeck remained uninhabited for almost 100 years. From 1721 onward, Georg Dietloff von Arnim promoted the settlement of farmers and initiated the reconstruction of the church in 1744. The pulpit was also created during this period, although its exact date of origin between 1750 and 1790 is disputed. The timber-clad tower with its open lantern was erected in 1760/61. Two different types of "checkerboard" stones are incorporated into the church's structure: a Johanniter cross stone is located at the southeast corner of the church, and a checkerboard stone can be seen high up on the north side.

This stone village church truly stands out. It's unusually sturdy and so ideally situated in the small village that it offers excellent views from all sides. There are plenty of great photo opportunities!

Admission is free. The goats are completely peaceful and enjoy being scratched behind the ears.

Among the most important furnishings is a tall, three-tiered carved wooden altar with richly decorated ormolu work, dating from 1625. It originated in Schmölln and was installed in Gerswalde in 1983. The altar depicts scenes of the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension, as well as the Evangelists in shell niches.

The Haussee in Gerswalde is a natural lake in an idyllic setting, surrounded by forest and meadows, making it particularly suitable for those seeking relaxation and nature lovers. It offers a tranquil atmosphere for strolling, fishing, or simply relaxing on the shore.