Lush green forests, numerous lakes and waterways and gently rolling hills characterise the Finowkanal region to the north-east of Berlin. The generously developed cycle paths, hiking trails and waterways offer ideal conditions for active recreation seekers.
The water-rich area also offers excellent recreational and leisure opportunities, especially for families.
Along the banks of the Finow Canal, a charming landscape of extensive marshes, grasslands and forests has developed. White stork, marsh harrier, grey heron, coot and moorhen and, with a bit of luck, even kingfisher, crane, black stork or the shy beaver and otter can be observed. The Finow Canal also connects the Schorfheide-Corin Biosphere Reserve with the Lower Oder Valley National Park.
The Finow Canal is the oldest artificial waterway in Germany. It branches off the Oder-Havel Canal at Zerpenschleuse and joins the Oder-Havel Waterway at Liepe.
The Finow Canal is fishing country! It runs in wide bends through predominantly wooded areas. The width of the river varies greatly along the way. This gives the watercourse interesting bed structures. Areas with calmer currents form with sandbanks, reeds and herbaceous vegetation. Some trees hang down into the water, creating habitats for a variety of fish species. Deadwood can also be found in the channel.
Fishing permits
The Finow Canal is managed by the Barnim District Anglers' Association. Guest fishing permits are available there.
More information can be found at:
https://www.angeln-barnim.de
Characterised by unspoilt forests, tranquil lakes and an impressive industrial heritage, the region around the Finow Canal invites you to discover nature and history by bike. Cycling in the Finow Valley is an experience for all the senses, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful surroundings at your own pace.
The Oder-Havel cycle path in particular is an unforgettable excursion. The popular long-distance cycle path runs for 63 kilometres, mostly on asphalt, from Liebenwalde to the Oder and through the heart of the Finow Valley. For long stretches, the cycle path runs directly along the Finow canal on the historic towpath, on which people and horses once pulled barges across the canal.
The cycle tour leads not only through impressive natural landscapes, but also to unique cultural monuments. In and around Eberswalde you will discover exciting examples of industrial heritage, including the paper mill in Eberswalde and the Finow water tower in the Messingsiedlung. A particular highlight is the Niederfinow boat lift, a masterpiece of engineering and the oldest lift still in operation in Germany.
For more information and alternative tours of the Finow Canal, see the following pages:
Oder Havel bike tour
Tour along the Finowkanal
The Barnimer Land, an ice-age ridge between Berlin and Eberswalde with rolling hills, large mixed forests, lakes and waterways, is one of the most beautiful regions in Brandenburg.
The Finow Canal, Germany's oldest man-made waterway and a listed monument, runs parallel to the Oder-Havel Canal between Zerpenschleuse and Lieper Schleuse. On the Finow Canal, recreational captains keep to themselves as they pass through the hand-operated locks. Facilities from 250 years of industrial history alternate with idyllic, natural stretches of riverbank. No other area in Brandenburg offers such a symbiosis of scenic beauty and impressive industrial culture. With the reopening of the 10 km long Finow Canal section "Langer Trödel" in 2016, the closing of the gap from the Upper Havel to the historic Finow Canal as well as to Lake Werbellin became a reality. This means that the Finow Canal is once again navigable without interruption for 42 km and can be navigated without a licence with a charter certificate.
This creates a connection for charterers from the Mecklenburg and Rheinsberg waters and the Upper Havel Waterway to the Havel-Oder Waterway and the Finow Canal. To reach the Werbellin waters, you cross the Havel-Oder Waterway at km 50 and branch off into the Werbellin Canal at km 59 in the Finow Canal. The Finow Canal itself runs via Eberswalde to its confluence with the Havel-Oder Waterway at Liepe.
The Finow Canal is attractive for water hiking by canoe as well as by motorboat. There is a well-developed tourist infrastructure with several rest areas and smaller marinas in the neighbouring communities, such as Liebenwalde.
Valuable travel tips for trips on the Finow Canal can be found, for example, at:
https://www.unser-finowkanal.eu/vor-ihrer-fahrt/
https://www.reiseland-brandenburg.de/orte-regionen/wasserreviere/finowkanal/
https://www.faltboot.org/wiki/index.php/Finowkanal
