Camping in Havelland

If you are looking for camping in a peaceful and idyllic river landscape, Havelland is the place for you. The region in the west of Brandenburg owes its name to the Havel, this widely branching river that flows through large and small lakes and forms a fascinating water sports area. The flat Havelland is criss-crossed by orchards, extensive fields and pine forests, making it a paradise for cyclists. Museums, romantic manor houses and stately castles also offer plenty of cultural delights.

Special features of camping in Havelland

The campsites in Havelland stand for carefree nature experiences. Most of them are located directly on the water and offer bathing facilities and moorings for boats. It doesn't matter whether you choose a spacious campsite like the one in the island town of Werder. Or one of the smaller sites with a family atmosphere, such as the campsite not far from the natural harbour in Ketzin.

Pets are also allowed on most of the family-friendly campsites in the region. Some, such as the campsite located directly on the Havel Canal in Zeestow or the camping park on Lake Ferchesar, even have their own dog beach. There are also attractive motorhome pitches on a children's farm in Ribbeck, at the marina on Beetzsee in Brielow or at the mighty cathedral in Brandenburg an der Havel. Recommended destinations in the region for a relaxing camping holiday are Camping Seeblick Hohennauen, Rathenow campsite on Steckelsdorfer See, Buntspecht camping park, Blütencamping Riegelspitze, the campsite on the Havel near Ketzin or Flachsberg Gortz on Beetzsee. All of them are characterised by their unique location, comprehensive facilities and outstanding service. All guests are advised to book their pitches early.

Getting there

Brandenburg is known as the land of avenues, which is why the journey to Havelland often takes place under a canopy of leaves, at least between spring and autumn. The city of Brandenburg an der Havel is located around 70 kilometres west of Berlin. The B1 and B5 motorways lead directly from the vibrant metropolis to the sparsely populated region, which is rich in water.

If you are travelling to Havelland by caravan or motorhome from Hamburg or Rostock, take the A24 motorway to the Havelland junction with access to the A10 motorway, also known as the Berliner Ring. From Hanover, take the A2 motorway to the Werder junction. The Lappwald service area near Helmstedt is recommended for a stopover with refuelling facilities, a playground and restaurants.

From the Halle/Leipzig area and from Munich, you can reach Havelland via the A9 motorway to the Potsdam junction. Once you arrive at your destination, the region is perfect for exploring by bike, canoe or on foot. On the way, you can let your gaze wander over enchanted water meadows, watch birds or take an enjoyable break in rustic cafés.

Destinations in Havelland

The charming towns and dreamy villages of Havelland are still characterised by centuries of eventful history - and plenty of poetry.

Brandenburg an der Havel - the cradle of the Mark

Surrounded by the numerous arms of the Havel, the third largest city in the state of Brandenburg can look back on over 1,000 years of settlement history. The Margraviate of Brandenburg was founded in 1157 by Albrecht the Bear on the Cathedral Island, which forms one of the three medieval centres of Brandenburg on the Havel alongside the Old Town and the New Town.

The monumental St Peter and Paul Cathedral in the style of North German Brick Gothic and the adjoining art history museum are well worth discovering. Other sights in the church-rich town include the Gothic Old Town Hall and a reconstructed Slavic village with an adventure factor.

Ribbeck - where pears still shine far and wide

Theodor Fontane's famous poem about Mr Ribbeck auf Ribbeck in Havelland will probably forever associate the idyllic village of Ribbeck with a pear tree steeped in legend. It grew from the crypt of the generous landowner Hans Georg von Ribbeck and fed the poor with fruit.

The original stump of the tree can be seen today at the staircase of the village church, which dates back to the 13th century. It is also worth visiting Ribbeck Castle with its adjoining museum on the history of the magnificent neo-baroque building.

Top sights

• Brandenburg an der Havel: The over 1000-year-old city is considered the birthplace of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and is a beautiful destination for a day trip, especially because of its historic old town.
• Westhavelland Star Park: In Germany's first star park, you can observe the spectacular night sky in one of the darkest places in Europe.
• Glindow Alps: Well-maintained hiking trails lead through the wild and romantic hilly landscape around the village of Glindow.
• Lehnin Monastery: The former Cistercian monastery with its time-honoured walls is one of the highlights in Havelland.
• Ketzin an der Havel: Time seems to have stood still in this romantic fishing village on the Havel.

Activities and excursions

Whether on water or on land, whether doing sport or visiting a museum: active recreation is the order of the day in Havelland.

Get on your bike

The Havelland Cycle Route runs for 115 kilometres from the Berlin district of Spandau via Nauen and Rathenow to the Westhavelland Nature Park and forms an attractive circular route with the Havel Cycle Route leading from Potsdam to Havelberg. Regional cycle routes such as the Wassersuppe Tour or the Erdelöcher-Landpartie also have their own charm.

Activities on the water

There are two attractive water sports areas to discover in Havelland: the Lower Havel Lowlands river landscape and the Potsdam and Brandenburg Havel Lakes further south. Canoes, rafts, sailing boats or motorboats can be used to navigate the calm waters. It is also possible to take a dip at one of the natural bathing spots, go fishing, have a picnic at one of the Havel bays or relax on an excursion boat.

For those interested in culture

At Paretz Castle, you can follow in the footsteps of Prussian Queen Luise, walk through a world clock in the Rathenow Optics Park, immerse yourself in aviation history at the Otto Lilienthal Centre in Stölln or visit Albert Einstein's summer house in Caputh. Local history parlours and museums such as the Reckahn School Museum or the village museum in Tremmen provide an insight into the life of the Havellanders.

Gastronomy

Havelland is famous for its orchards. Whether apples, pears or plums: the numerous farm shops in the region invite you to pick your own and also offer a variety of products from their own production. Quality wine is even grown on the Wachtelberg in Werder, surrounded by Havel lakes, including a Müller-Thurgau with a vineyard peach flavour and a Dornfelder reminiscent of cherries.

In spring, asparagus is king in Havelland. Those who live so close to the water naturally also serve fish. Havel pikeperch is popular and is often served in restaurants with capers or a potato salad refined with meat stock, smoked bacon and parsley. A regional dish that you can easily recreate when camping in Havelland is quark with fresh herbs, linseed oil and jacket potatoes.

Best time to visit

Havelland is characterised by a temperate continental climate. This not only favours wine-growing and makes the region the fruit chamber of Berlin, but also prevents extreme weather conditions. In spring, the apple, pear and cherry orchards of Havelland are transformed into a fragrant sea of white and pink blossom. The end of April officially heralds the start of the cycling season.

The months of June to August, with average maximum temperatures of around 22° Celsius, are of course the best time to jump into the refreshing water. The water temperatures in the Havel can then reach 20° Celsius and above. The clear night sky over Havelland is one of the darkest in Germany. Especially in spring, late summer and autumn, the Westhavelland Star Park offers a magnificent view of the Milky Way.