Looking for an easy escape from the big city? While Potsdam is probably one of the first places that comes to mind, if you stop 4km before you reach the Brandenburg capital you will find a lesser-known place that really does fit the category of hidden gem: the parklands and church at Sacrow. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, the park is home to 26 hectares of tree-lined paths and handsome gardens that all look out onto the Havel river. The gardens are officially part of the Schloss Sacrow, an elegant but rather understated country house that was acquired by Kaiser Frederick William IV from a Swedish nobleman in 1840. The kaiser commissioned his architect Ludwig Persius to build what is now the star of Sacrow: the Heilandskirche (Saviour’s Church), an evangelist chapel finished in Italian style that juts out into the water like a ship at dock.

The church’s bell tower – or campanile – is a particularly unusual feature, giving a touch of Tuscany to the Havelland scenery. As you follow the yellow brick and blue tiled walls round as they curve towards the water, you are led to a perfect place to sit and enjoy the view as the sailing boats and water taxis float by. But underneath the tranquil vista is a long and often turbulent history: between 1961 and 1989 the site was stuck in a no man’s land between the GDR and West Berlin on the other side of the Havel, with border guards using the campanile as an ad-hoc watchtower. After the Wall came down, the then-derelict church was restored to its former glory, including the interior which you can now visit. Having explored the church site, you can continue your trip with a walk or cycle around the gardens, which offer endless spots for a rustic picnic with views out onto the river. Before you go, there is one last stop that is worth a visit: the giant English oak tree that stands 150 meters from the Schloss and is – amazingly – thought to be over a thousand years old.

Text: Benji Haughton / Photos: Savannah van der Niet

Park Sacrow, Krampnitzer Str.34, 14470 Potsdam; map
You can reach Sacrow by car (free parking is available here) and on the 697 bus (limited service).

If, like me, you feel your body isn’t in as good shape as it could be, it might be time to begin working on your fitness – or as Michael Schaller puts it, learning “to move as freely and lightly as possible.” The Berlin-based personal trainer studied sports science at the Technical University of Munich and spent time giving athletic coaching to young basketball talents – experiences which led him to focus on a broad repertoire of movements that anyone can do. For me, the term personal trainer has always seemed a distant concept with “Hollywood” connotations. But as I balance on one leg in a Prenzlauer Berg field trying to dodge Michael’s dangling tennis ball, it becomes clear that this is not about living the Beverly Hills life.

As I begin to move, I realize that my regular cycling practice uses only a fraction of my muscles: it turns out there’s strength in places I didn’t even know existed (hello, sore muscles). The work allows me to (re)learn my body and understand that I still have a long way to go to develop a better “vocabulary” of movements. But that’s no matter, since the training is actually lots of fun! If like me you had clichéd images of personal training in your head, a session with Michael will set you straight. He doesn’t stand over you and drill you until you drop, and there are no endless squats. Instead you are led through a whole range of movements, from “knee-washing” (knee exercises) to a meditative practice that reminds you of Qi Gong and challenges both body and mind. And while there are times when the little control freak in you takes over and makes you want to give up, by the end of the session you feel great satisfaction at what you have achieved. The learning doesn’t stop there though: the idea is to integrate the exercises into your daily routine and develop a personal movement vocabulary that supports you. As Michael puts it, “the urge to move accompanies us throughout our lives – a life without movement does not exist.” Amen! 

P.S.: Michael usually holds his sessions in a fitness studio in Mitte, but due to current rules you can train with him outside (with distancing) or via Zoom. 

Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Savannah van der Niet

Michael Schaller personal training can be booked via email and phone. 

@michael.schaller