Out of Berlin: the nature at Peene River | The Family Without Borders

The Family Without Borders

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Out of Berlin into the nature: Peene River

Raft, river peene, near Berlin, water, boat rental, Meckenburg Vorpommern, Germany, travel, canoe, canoeing

Adventure holidays in Europe? Ha! In Germany! We can confirm: just a longer weekend trip out of Berlin can be wild, beautiful and lonesome. It was truly surprising!

Since we also work sometimes and have here and there some duties – lately we couldn’t leave Berlin for longer time, so we tried to get best out of it and use any free day. And because May is a month of long weekends in Germany – we had 4 full days to travel.

We know quite well all the lakes north of Berlin and this time decided to go further: crossing Brandenburg and getting to Mecklemburg! There is a long valley of Peene River. Nobody from our friends has been there, nothing to be read about it in Lonely Planet, not much online – we took it a good sign!

Driving through the fields of rapeseed, you really get into the freedom mode. Juicy yellow, intense blue sky, strong sun and a nice wind in your hair. Don’t ask how many times we have stopped ;) First serious stop was at the Kummerower Lake, where the Peene River starts. The first fresh fish in the restaurant. The first meanders of the river.

We decided to stay for a night in an old, beautiful mansion from 1850. Gutshaus Stolpe, the residence of the lord of the manor is situated just next to the ruins of a monastery. Walking during the sunset and the sunrise at this big space, touching those old walls and listening to some whispers of the history – was a great time. Nowadays the place is just a very good hotel with a very good restaurant. You can also organize any meeting in there: weddings or conferences. In the old horse stable! Or just next to the Stolpe Abbey (Kloster Stolpe) from 1153, the oldest monastery in Pomerania.

There is also a sweet restaurant just next doors: more than 350-year-old Stolper Fährkrug, where you can talk with the local, very friendly people and drink amazing elderberry juice (or wine!).

Our next idea was a night at the raft. Have you ever done it? Neither have we, so was about the time to try! In Loitz we rent a raft, such a comfy one: with a roof, doors and a cooker. What an amazing feeling! To cross the valley, watching everything from the water perspective. There are almost no roads touching the Peene river, since it’s the largest contiguous fen region of Europe. The boat (or a raft) it’s a perfect solution to see it from “inside”. We had our mattresses and sleeping bags with us, a box full of food, few books and the cameras. One of us was steering, the other one was sitting with the girls on the front, watching… the beavers. Here and there, crossing our way or swimming just next to the raft. How exciting! We also had a kayak with us, to get into little parts of the river, being also much more silent. We were just not the most lucky with the weather: hunting the moments of the sun and slightly freezing at night (so we had to hug a lot!).

The kayak let us discover more and even… pay less! While paddling we crossed some gate and found ourselves in Demmin Hanseviertel, a very cool museum of the region. One can learn a lot there (about the birds, houses, farming in the past), kids can play with things made of clay or learn how to make a basket and the warm soup, during a cold day on the water, tastes amazing! There are two entrances to the museum: one from the side of the town and road, and another one – where you pay much less! – from the water side, where you can come in only on the boat.

And on the next day, we wanted to watch Peene from the distance! We rent the bikes and drove along the river (where it was possible). We were getting deep into the mud or high up on the hunters’ platforms – to watch the birds. For example the cormorants! We were lucky enough to see them feeding their little ones! We also found some empty eggs, what was a nice riddle to solve: – Mummy, what bird left this one? – Daddy, how many kids can stork have? – Mummy, what time does golden oriole sleep? – Daddy, what do you like more: a crane or a grey heron? // Oh how many things such a poor parent has to know! ;)

And when we started to go back – there was a huge eagle flying just above our heads! I really haven’t expected that just two hours out of Berlin, we can have those adventure holidays! Not in Tonga, but in… Germany ;) Totally recommended.

 

 

More information and inspiration about travelling through Germany here!

This post is also available in: German


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3 Comments

  • Posted June 8, 2015 at 02:15 | Permalink

    What a magical adventure. Would love to follow in your footsteps, one day. :) Have shared this via my Facebook.

    Reply
    • Anna Alboth
      Posted June 17, 2015 at 10:05 | Permalink

      GoooO! :)

      Reply
  • Posted January 11, 2016 at 06:14 | Permalink

    You have beautiful photos here and with great subject which is your family. Sometimes life is not just about work, you have to have fun and enjoy as well. And it’s a good thing you chose to spend this grand vacation with the most important people in your life. Thanks for sharing this one and for being an inspiration.

    Reply

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