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TAKE A VACATION IN WERDER — ON THE ISLAND OR THE MAINLAND, QUIET DAYS OR LONG WEEKENDS

TAKE A VACATION IN WERDER — ON THE ISLAND OR THE MAINLAND, QUIET DAYS OR LONG WEEKENDS

It’s a Friday afternoon, I close my laptop — everything screams weekend. We head straight to Werder, the young architecture studio undjurekbrüggen‘s holiday project. Behind it are Swiss architects Aimeè Michelfelder and Jurek Brüggen, who, after studying at ETH Zurich, returned to Werder, the place where Jurek grew up. And you can feel it immediately: they know every corner, every hidden gem in the region, and (almost) everyone around. Their project has been carefully restored — sustainable, detail-oriented, ecological, and adapted to the local setting. Almost everyone we meet is somehow involved: childhood football friends helped with demolition and gardening, flowers in the apartments come from Von Hand in Werder, and the photographs on the walls are by Anne Schwalbe. Orte is not just a holiday spot, it’s a whole world. Two properties, two shores on the Havel, eight unique apartments, all harmoniously integrated into the landscape, and only 600 meters apart. Each light-filled apartment is individually designed and comfortably furnished. You’re constantly in touch with the surrounding nature, in tune with the weather and the seasons.

Am Mühlenberg is located on the island of Werder. Here, a spacious waterfront property with meadows and a listed ensemble of old and new buildings is nestled among orchards and ancient oaks. A private vineyard with 800 vines and a belvedere is my personal highlight. At the foot of the vineyard stands Hain, a striking storage and production pavilion made almost entirely of natural, recycled, and local materials for the organic wine Jurek’s family has been producing for years. Past the pavilion, a narrow jetty leads through dense riverside vegetation directly into the Havel, where a pair of swans swim curiously towards us. It feels like a movie scene! From there, we swim to the opposite shore. The second property, Im Scheuhornweg, is a hidden garden with old trees on the mainland, with a view back onto the island. A simple white Bauhaus-style house (designed by architect Peter Bartning) is our home for the weekend. We spend the day on the large wooden jetty — a ladder leads straight into the water. Swimming, reading, relaxing, doing nothing. We watch the water sparkle and instantly feel at home and deeply refreshed.

Text: Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Anne Schwalbe, Hannes Heitmüller

Orte

On the mainland: Am Scheunhornweg 36, 14542 Werder; map
On the island: Am Mühlenberg 21, 14542 Werder; map

@orte.site

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POP IN FOR A COFFEE OR AN AFTERNOON PINT: MARKTPLATZ WALDSCHÄNKE FOR A DAY TRIP

POP IN FOR A COFFEE OR AN AFTERNOON PINT: MARKTPLATZ WALDSCHÄNKE FOR A DAY TRIP

As you pass through Teltow and step off the bus at Stansdorf, the first thing you’ll see is a two-story building perched on the corner. And the first thing you’ll smell is the freshness of the lush green park opposite. Marktplatz Waldschänke is a heritage site, built in the late 1910s, with cottage character. It reminds me of an enchanted gingerbread house. You can imagine what it means to the local community, nothing short of an icon — beloved and cherished. More than just the building itself, it stands surrounded by a beer garden, a large dining courtyard at the cafe, a spot to chill by the fire or make woodfired pizza, swings to swing on, an ice-cream bar, or some freshly baked bread from Domberger Brot-Werk. The bread station is an ex-military trailer with a built-in wood fire oven. There are so many layers and elements to this space, nooks and crannies to explore, you’d need at least half a day to take it all in.

My favorite component is the barn house, replenished and revamped into a beautiful dining space to sit and enjoy coffee and cake. Our favorite is the vegan carrot cake and the lemon cheesecake. Alternatively, you can reserve it for a private function. The furniture has either been built from scraps by Adrian Schefer and his team or donated by the community. There’s a huge sense of nostalgia — finding the joy in how nothing matches, and pieces had a whole other life before arriving here. The entire space is designed to bring people together while supporting the local community. A lot of love and contribution has gone into Walderschänke, whether it be from material donations, labour efforts, or simply sharing the space with other business owners. Adrian, with his deep knowledge of Waldschänke’s history, years of experience opening and running businesses in Berlin, and a passion for up-cycling, has been slowly and carefully reviving the space. There’s still plenty to do, so an “all hands on deck” spirit is welcome. Visitors can stop by Thursday through Sunday or book for private events.

Text & photos: Ruby Watt

Marktplatz Waldschänke, Wannseestr.21, 14532, Berlin–Stahnsdorf; map

@marktplatz_waldschaenke

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ON TOUR WITH TORTUGA — CUSTOM BIKES AND NIGHT RIDES THROUGH BRANDENBURG
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ON TOUR WITH TORTUGA — CUSTOM BIKES AND NIGHT RIDES THROUGH BRANDENBURG

Bike shop for custom rides runs regular two-wheeled tours to Brandenburg and beyond. 13–15 kilometers per hour, it turns out, is the ideal cycling speed – at least it is if you still want to chat to your friends as you pedal. It’s what the folks at Tortuga Cycles & Café, the Pankow bike shop and two-wheeled tour organizer, call “slowcial”. Since 2023, the shop’s owners Andreas and Izabella have been offering regular social rides and overnight cycling trips that are as much about catching up as pressing on. The routes typically start in Berlin, before cruising along the flat, forgiving countryside of Brandenburg and winding up at a camping spot for the night or a train station for a chill trip home. This weekend the crew are heading west for some stargazing in Gülpe, Brandenburg, where minimal light pollution (and – fingers crossed – clear weather) will allow a glimpse of the Perseids meteor shower, which peaks every year in early August. The one-night trip covers 109 kilometers and is open to cyclists of all abilities, with the option to do the initial, faster section out of the city by train. Of course, to cover that distance you’ll need a capable bike, and this happens to be Tortuga’s core hustle: the shop specializes in custom-built bikes using frames from respected brands like Surly. You tell the team what you want – MTB, gravel, commuter, tourer or something in between – and they’ll build a set of wheels that ticks all the boxes. Bike nerdom included.

Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Victor Galagos & Josh Hild

Tortuga Cycles & Café, Prenzlauer Promenade 180, 13189 Berlin–Pankow; map

You can sign up for the bike tours by DM or email.

@tortugacycles

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TAKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR — A HOLIDAY AT THE ALTE FLACHSFARM ON THE EDGE OF THE SPREEWALD

TAKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR — A HOLIDAY AT THE ALTE FLACHSFARM ON THE EDGE OF THE SPREEWALD

Sometimes all you need is to switch off, go offline, and take a deep breath. Just an hour from Berlin, tucked between open fields and the Spree River, where Brandenburg still feels untouched, a special place awaits. The Alte Flachsfarm, on the edge of the Spreewald, is a listed farmhouse with a blooming garden and quiet charm. It’s a retreat with soul, simplicity, and great attention to detail. Flax once grew here — the striking, blue-flowered plant used to make linen. The region around Cottbus was known for its weaving mills and textile craft, once the heart of Germany’s clothmakers’ guild. Today, the former site of production is a place to pause, breathe, and be present. The property is vast and green, and not only a haven for people but also for hedgehogs, skylarks, nightingales, pheasants, and other residents of the neighboring nature reserve. Caterina Rancho, photographer and host, has created a peaceful paradise, perfect for creative retreats and workshops, relaxed weekends with friends, or a solo break to recharge.

Inside the house, find four thoughtfully designed bedrooms, cozy living areas with a fireplace, and a fully equipped kitchen. Outside is a park-like garden filled with bees and blossoms, a glass-fronted sauna with views of the countryside, shady fruit trees, and (just an eight-minute walk away) several hidden swimming spots along the Spree. The farm strikes a rare balance: secluded enough to unwind, close enough to explore. From here, it’s a 30-minute bike ride to the Spreewald, or 25 minutes to the old town of Cottbus. My tip: sip your morning coffee among rose bushes and berry vines, then end the day in the sauna under the stars. No plans, no pressure, just be.

Text: Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Caterina Rancho

Alte Flachsfarm, Neues Dorf 4, 03054 Cottbus; map
You can book here (dogs are not allowed).

@alteflachsfarm_caterinarancho

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WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE — AN ODE TO BEING ON THE ROAD

WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE — AN ODE TO BEING ON THE ROAD

Have you been to the bonsai garden at Schwielowsee? Do you know the Garzau pyramid? Have you noticed the colorful U7 subway stations designed by Rainer G. Rümmler? The Späth-Arboretum in Treptow? You can find these tips and many more in the new guide Walking on the Wild Side by Julia Spindelmann and Flavia Lamprecht. This excursion guide is ideal for anyone who doesn’t know where to go on the weekends. It’s not only a guide, but a manifesto for slow travel and sustainable curiosity, for spontaneous excursions and quiet Sundays. A curated guide with 70 adventures through Berlin and Brandenburg, to hidden paths and forgotten places. Each tour feels like a tip from a friend. It’s as if you are actually traveling with Julia and Flavia, past abandoned train stations, idyllic lakes, and prefabricated concrete dreams. They invite you to see the region with new eyes. And, in doing so, they draw your attention to what is often overlooked: an old mosaic, an architectural curiosity, a farm shop with homemade jam.

The routes include afternoon walks (like the one in Schöneberger Südgelände Nature Park), day trips (such as Liebermann Villa & Pfaueninsel), and microadventures with overnight stays (Märkische Schweiz, for example) —  ideal ways to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They’re complemented by personal recommendations for cafés, farm shops, and accommodation options, with a focus on local specialties and sustainability. Everything is accessible on foot, by train, or by bike. In the book, a QR code links to a digital map, making planning and navigation even easier. For the curious and adventurous, consider this guidebook your compass.

Text: Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Robyn Steffen

“Walking on the Wild Side – Streifzüge durch Berlin und Brandenburg” by Flavia Lamprecht & Julia Spindelmann. The book has been available since May 2025 in bookshops and online.

@walkingonthewildsideofberlin

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