The best traffic-free bike rides in Kockot

This is pure vacation here 🤙

Among the visual highlights in the village is the old half-timbered church. It burned down in 1769, after which the inhabitants built a new place of worship about ten years later. To this day, the people of Schlepzig ensure its preservation; I particularly liked the painted cloud ceiling.

a paradise for all kinds of birds 🦤🪿🦆

Anyone who thinks the Spreewald is all about pickles and postcard-perfect scenery hasn't been to the Schlepzig country shop. Here, the products aren't fake, but smoked – and the fish is smoked, as it should be. Along with that, you'll find salmon and dill spread, local eggs, and sometimes even instant pickles. The shop is small, but that's precisely what makes it great: no over-the-top decoration, just a slice of authentic country life. Friendly, down-to-earth, unpretentious – like the Spreewald itself. Ideal for a quick stop with a lasting impression.

Those cycling away from the barges and canals of the Spreewald will come across a tranquil body of water south of Schlepzig that is more than just a pond: The Moorteich is nestled in a rustic pond landscape with birch trees, alders, and the typical interplay of wet ground and gnarled vegetation. This is where the Spreewald begins to break away from the postcard image and reveal its idiosyncratic beauty. The path there is unpaved, but easily navigable – a typical dike gravel path that winds gently between streams and bushes. If you're lucky, you might spot herons or cormorants, but most definitely: no hustle and bustle. The pond itself is large, open, and has a very unique, almost melancholy charm. Under a gray sky, a certain heaviness hangs over the surface; in summer, however, the water between the trees glows like a tranquil mirror. A simple bench would be nice, but it's missing. The atmosphere makes up for it – whoever sits, stands, looks, listens here automatically feels a little closer to nature than they did five minutes ago.

Anyone cycling south from Schlepzig along the Spreewald Dam will pass through a landscape like something out of an old nature film: shallow ponds, quiet waterways, a causeway path with crunching gravel, and then – almost unexpectedly – a small jetty overlooking a body of water that takes your breath away. This is the Inselsteich (Island Pond): framed by reeds, birch trees, and pines, perhaps a swan in the distance, a gentle rippling, nothing else. This place is far removed from any rush – and it's noticeable: there are no restaurants, no benches with a view, no picnic area. But if you park your bike, pause for a moment, and watch the light play on the water, you'll understand why it's worth stopping here for a while. Tip: Early in the morning or during the golden hour, the Inselsteich seems almost magical. Then the trees and sky are reflected with a clarity otherwise only seen in Canada. And if you're lucky, you might hear the rustling of otters or the call of a crane from the nearby reeds.

Anyone cycling through the quiet heart of the biosphere reserve in the late afternoon shouldn't miss this place: The Heron Sleeping Pond isn't a spectacular photo spot, but a quiet natural theater for the patient—and perhaps one of the most magical places at dusk. Dozens of herons gather in the shallow waters, striding through the water on their long legs or simply remaining motionless. In the evening, they fly in in small squadrons, stoic and with the wide beat of their wings that cradle the sky. If you're lucky, you might see them gliding over the reed belt like white shadows from the forest at sunset. The pond is a bit off the beaten track—a short detour is worthwhile. No bench, no observation tower, no ice cream stand. Just nature. There's nothing to speak here except the birds, the wind, and the gentle rustling of the reeds. Practical tip: The path is natural, partly sandy, but easily accessible by bike. It's best to bring binoculars and time. Particularly worthwhile in autumn and spring when migratory birds rest.

The painted cloudy sky in the church, which was restored from 1979 to 1984, is surprising and beautiful. And it is apparently always open.