Bernhardspfad

The northern route (21 km) starts at the monastery complex, whose visit is as stimulating as it is contemplative. You leave the grounds via the historic oak avenue once used by the monks. Through extensive pine stands, you reach the village Nahmitz, then immediately immerse again in a quiet, dense forest. The expansive natural swimming area at Netzener See with jetty and lawn is the perfect place for a rest. 🏖️

As a natural lakeside path, the route now leads along the lake with partly wild romantic views of the shore. In the Rietzer See nature reserve, reed as tall as a man and wide grasslands dominate. The wetland is home to countless protected bird species. Via Trechwitz and Damsdorf with its impressive churches, you reach Nahmitz again. Through the Klosterheide on the eastern shore of Klostersee, you walk back to Lehnin. 🌊

From here, the southern route (14 km) leads through the village and forest to the shore of Gohlitzsee. The lake accompanies you for a while before the path winds through the varied forest to Rädel. Meadows and heath areas repeatedly provide views of the lake. Behind Rädel, it goes over hilly and sandy fields to Emstal. From the heights, you get a worthwhile view back to the village and forward to the lower Rädeler Zitzel and Emstaler Zitzel, small ice age waters that are retreat areas for many water birds. 🐦

In Emstal, in addition to the Bread Oven Museum, historical bread ovens can be admired in which the Emstaler round breads are baked on some days of the year. Finally, the path leads again through the forest until you reach the first houses of Lehnin at the sports center. 🏘️

🪧 Route marking: red "B" on black background

🛤️ Path condition: 17.8 km unpaved, 15.9 km paved

⛅ Light conditions: 16.8 km shaded, 16.9 km sunny

🪑 Rest areas: between Nahmitz and the koi garden on the west shore, between Nahmitz and Netzen in the forest, at the natural swimming spot Netzen, at the Emster Canal bridge, shortly after the Lehnin beach on the east shore, at Gohlitzsee, at Emstaler Zitzel, behind Rädel at Emstaler Schlauch

🛝 Playgrounds: Dorfstraße Nahmitz, Neusiedlerstraße in Trechwitz, on the grounds of the Lehnin beach, Marktgrafenplatz opposite the tourist info, behind Rädel at Emstaler Schlauch

🌊 Water access: at the Emster Canal in Lehnin, natural swimming spot Netzener See, Emster Canal behind Netzen, east shore Klostersee, Gohlitzsee, Emstaler Zitzel, Emstaler Schlauch

🏖️ Swimming facilities: natural swimming spot Netzener See, beach Lehnin, swimming spot on the east shore of Klostersee, swimming spot at Gohlitzsee, natural beach at Emstaler Schlauch

🅿️ Parking: car park at Marktgrafenplatz, car park at monastery grounds

🚌 Public transport: bus 550, 553, 554, 566, 567, 580, 645 – stop Lehnin bus station

🥾 Suitable for: hikers