While the big city is bursting with events, new openings, modern exhibitions, and other highlights, we sometimes find ourselves longing for idyllic surroundings. We think about traveling—of course, bargain flights and soon-to-be-launched high-speed trains to other countries are totally tempting. But it doesn’t always have to be beyond the country’s borders. Just a few kilometers outside Berlin, you’ll find yourself in an idyllic place where the rainforest on the equator suddenly seems closer than you thought. The Briesetal valley in the Oberhavel district of Brandenburg, with its narrow, wooded valley following the small Briese river, looks like an enchanted fairy-tale forest.
The Briesetal valley is particularly popular with hikers and walkers. A well-maintained hiking trail follows the course of the river for several kilometers. One of the most popular routes starts in Zühlsdorf and leads through the entire valley to Birkenwerder. The route is about ten to twelve kilometers long and is mostly flat, making it suitable for leisurely walks. Along the way, you pass wooden footbridges over wetlands, old beech forests, and numerous quiet natural spots right by the water.
The Briesetal valley is also a very valuable area from an ecological point of view. The mixture of forest, water, and wetland biotopes provides a habitat for many animal species. Beavers and otters, among others, live in the waters and along the banks. Kingfishers, numerous forest bird species, and many amphibians can also be found here.
