North of Berlin lies the tranquil little town of Gransee. I only knew it as a stopover on the way to Fürstenberg or Neustrelitz (my highlights when it comes to hiking routes in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). With its limited atmosphere and charm, the train station never inspired me to explore the area further. But, after all these years, I was pleasantly surprised! Gransee is an impressive and picturesque old town, brimming with historic buildings. It’s a delight to wander through the narrow streets before heading into the forest and nature beyond. With coffee in hand from the traditional bakery, we marveled at the Powder Tower and Ruppiner Tor, the St. Spiritus Chapel, the 14th-century Marienkirche, the Granseer Wartturm, a monument to Queen Luise in the town square, a historic town wall, and a Franciscan monastery. Amidst these landmarks were charming old houses and quaint shops. Despite the idyllic tranquility, we were eager to reach the wilderness, which awaited us in the form of a hilly forest just beyond the houses. We were immediately rewarded with plenty of parasol mushrooms, which we passed up this time, choosing to fill our baskets with porcini mushrooms instead.
After traversing forest and meadow, we reached the Huwenowsee, with its large, empty bathing area — a perfect spot for a rest. The path along the shore of the Huwenowsee leads you to the second lake, the Dölchsee, and from there, it’s just a stone’s throw to the third, the “Big Dölchsee.” After enjoying this trio of lakes, the tour winds back into the forest, guiding you through the final third of the route to Gransee. For me, this hike has all the elements of a perfect tour: a varied landscape, few to no people, mushrooms to forage, and, of course, coffee to go at the start. In autumn, it’s worth starting early to account for the early sunset, as the hike spans 18 kilometers. Incidentally, my favorite discovery in Gransee was an old, now-closed gas station from the 1950s. An internet search revealed this “Grand See” petrol station once won a prize for the most beautiful gas station in Brandenburg.
Text & Photos: Laura Iriondo
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