A spine-tingling adventure awaits you in Brandenburg an der Havel. In the idyllic GränertNature Reserve, you can hike along a roughly 14-kilometer route, following in the footsteps of the once-legendary bandit chief Habakuk Schmauch.
If you like stories about kidnapped princesses, robbers, and unbreakable oaths, you don’t even have to leave Berlin. Be sure to check out this concert series!
The Gränert Nature Reserve: The Legend of the Thief and the Clever Merchant’s Daughter
In the 15th century, Schmauch and his gang terrorized the old military road, lying in wait for heavily laden convoys. One day, the bandit chief kidnapped the daughter of a Brandenburg merchant and took her to his hideout in Diebesgrund. He forced her to marry him and made her swear an oath never to reveal to anyone the location of the bandits’ hideout.
But the clever young woman managed to escape! Back in Brandenburg, she confided her secret to the stone statue of Roland (see picture below) in front of City Hall—after all, the statue wasn’t a real person. The city guards heard her and tracked down the hideout in the forest. They overpowered the notorious Habakuk Schmauch and executed him by breaking on the wheel at the city’s execution site.
Hike to the historic Diebesgrund
Today, you no longer need to fear highwaymen on your tour. The route takes you through dense, typical Markish forests straight to the legendary silver spring, which once served as a watering hole for the gang. A sign and an iron railing dating from 1905 mark this magnificent spot in the thickets of the Gränert.
A Relaxing Trip for a Day Out
Pack some comfortable shoes and a little something to eat, and let’s go! Take public transit: catch the RE1 from Berlin Central Station directly to Kirchmöser Station. On the way back, take the B/522 bus from Wilhelmsdorf to Brandenburg Central Station, and from there, take the RE back to Berlin.
📍 Gränert Nature Reserve / Diebesgrund (Start at Kirchmöser Station / End in Wilhelmsdorf)
📆 Open to the public at any time
⏳ Approx. 3–4 hours (for the 14-km route)
💵 Free
ℹ️ More info and route
