By car, on foot, or by public transport—these are usually our everyday means of transportation to get from A to B. But wouldn’t it be nicer to glide through the water, receive your mail by boat, and even dispose of your trash the same way? Sounds more like a Venetian fairy tale, you think? Then you’re wrong, because this Italian scenario is closer than you think. Just 1.5 hours from Berlin, there is a tiny village hidden away in the Spreewald that can only be reached by boat. We are talking about the so-called “lagoon village” of Lehde, which belongs to the town of Lübbenau and is considered one of the most beautiful and unspoilt villages in the region.
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There are no normal roads in the center of Lehde. The village lies in the middle of the Spreewald’s network of waterways, and transport is almost exclusively by typical Spreewald punt. Lehde is surrounded by a network of hundreds of small canals (Fließen) – similar to a lagoon landscape. Many farms are located on small islands that can only be reached by footbridges or boats. This is why Lehde is often referred to as the “Venice of the Spreewald” or the “Venice of the North.” In the immediate vicinity of the village, there are around 30–40 small canals that meander between the farms like side arms. In the entire Spreewald, there are several hundred individual canals and around 1,000 waterways.
Lehde is strongly influenced by the culture of the Sorbs/Wends. Traditional wooden houses with thatched roofs dominate the landscape, and many customs, traditional costumes, and regional cuisine have been preserved to this day. One highlight is the Lehde Open-Air Museum, which impressively depicts life in the Spreewald in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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The most popular activity in the Spreewald remains the boat trip, where you are punted through the canals in a wooden boat. There are also many flat paths along the streams and meadows that are perfect for cycling. Typical of the Spreewald cuisine are the famous Spreewald gherkins, linseed oil with quark and potatoes, and various fish dishes.