If you want a bird’s-eye view of Berlin and beyond, the Fernsehturm and the Siegessäule are your two go-to lookouts. But head 40km south of the city and you’ll find a lesser-known tower offering an equally fine vista: Löwendorfer Berg. Your starting point is the pretty village of Löwendorf, where blue-dotted signs guide you up the 103m-tall hill on uneven but interesting sandy paths. Part of Brandenburg’s 66-lake hiking network, Löwendorfer Berg is the highest point in the Naturpark Nuthe-Nieplitz to which it belongs. You begin to feel this height as you continue the roughly 30-minute walk to the summit, where another – this time man-made – elevation awaits: a 22m timber-framed observation tower that has stood at the site since 2012. You can stop for a tea break at the picnic tables before starting your final climb up the structure’s 112 steps.
At the top, you’re greeted by a magnificent 360-degree view with (weather-permitting) clear views of Potsdam, Teufelsberg and the Fernsehturm. The viewing platform has seats so you can catch your breath and a telescope for a closer view (can you spot Gropiusstadt?). Once you have taken in the panorama, it’s time to head down and continue exploring the woodland. There are numerous paths to take and you can’t go wrong. You can extend your visit with an hour’s hike to Blankensee, spotting deer at the game reserve on your way, or stick to a shorter circuit in the surrounding pine forest before heading back to the village. Finally, for the bravest walkers there’s the E10 European hiking path which is rather more ambitious: the trail takes you across the whole of Germany right down to the south coast of France.
Text & Photos: Benji Haughton
Löwendorfer Berg, Löwendorf 14959 Trebbin; map
You can reach the path by car (parking is available on Waldstraße) or with the RE3 train to Trebbin.
