Paths and steps in Caputh

Description: This walk takes you through Caputh - the "Chicago am Schwielowsee" - as Fontane called it - and lets you immerse yourself in the eventful history of the boatman and horticulture place with its cultural and scenic highlights. You can enjoy the varied and beautiful views of the Havel Lakes and the Havel!

Distance: 6 kilometres, walking time approximately 1.5 hours

Start/finish: Caputh church, Strasse der Einheit 3
Directions: 

• Public transport: take the RE1 (Brandenburg, Magdeburg) from Berlin central station to Potsdam central station (approximately 20 minutes), then take bus 607 to Caputh House
• Car: From Berlin Mitte, follow the A 100 and A115/E51 to L73 in Michendorf, leave the A10, exit L73, Potsdamer Str. to Caputh, Strasse der Einheit

Sights:

• Caputh church
• Caputh Palace
• Local heriatge museum Caputh
• Caputher Gemünde with the ferry Tussy
• old town center Caputh
• Schöne Aussicht (viewpoint)
• Krähenberg and "Findling"
• Former vineyard

Route description:
In front of the Caputher Church, which was built by Friedrich Stüler in the style of an Italian basilica with a free-standing bell tower in 1853, the hike begins. You will cross the street and see the Caputh Baroque Palace from the time of the Great Elector. In the Palace courtyard, turn into the park path leading to the left and follow it to the Krugwinkelbrücke. Behind the footbridge begins the district "Krughof", it was the nucleus of the village of Caputh. At the first turn, turn left and stand in front of the Heimathaus Caputh (No. 28). It belongs to one of the oldest houses in the village with an exhibition of the Heimatverein Caputh. Follow the road straight ahead and turn left at the end and then right into the "Street of Unity". You are on the old village road lined with beautiful lime trees. The former "Farben-Handlung, Medicinal-Drogerie, Parfümerie" (No. 40) with the listed interior design from the time around 1870 conveys the charm of bygone times. Before accessing the ferry, turn left into Weinbergstraße. In the 19th century, on the corner was the "Bosdorf ́sche Etablissement", where Fontane spent the night on his hikes in Caputh. Turn right to Caputher Gemünde and you can see the cable ferry Tussy at work. At the other end of the promenade, enjoy the beautiful view of the vastness of lake Schwielowsee. Follow the road along the railway tracks, cross the road and go straight ahead into Geschwister-Scholl-Straße. The stairs lead up to "Beautiful View", here you turn left and see the Tower Villa opposite. The villa of Consul Vohsen (1853-1919) was built in 1902 and was the first house on the Krähenberg. Follow the road further to the left and reach the Krähenberg, which with its dry grassland complex is a protected biotope. A footpath leads you down to the "Fat Sweden", an imposing boulder as a witness from the last ice age. You go straight ahead into the Spitzbubenweg and come to the circular path of Lake Caputh. In the 17th century there was one water mill here at the mill pond and mill ditch. On the southeast bank you can admire the historic carp pond complex, the Kunstdike, above the riverside path. Along paddocks you reach the Seestraße. A detour over the former vineyard on the Wilhelmshöhe is recommended by turning the road "Am Hang" to the left and then always keep right until you are back on the Seestraße and get back to the starting point of the hike.

Possible combinations:

• Hiking trail around Lake Caputher See
• Round Lake Schwielowsee through Caputh, Ferch and Petzow
• Hiking trail around Lake Templiner See

Maps/Literature: 

• ​KOMPASS Wanderkarte Havelland, 4in1 Wanderkarte, 1:50000 mit Aktiv Guide und Detailkarten inklusive Karte zur offline Verwendung in der KOMPASS-App., ISBN: 978-3-99044-255-5, Verlagsnummer: WK 745’
• Grünes Herz: Rad-, Wander- und Gewässerkarte Havelseen 3: Werder, Potsdam: Mit Fahrland, Glindow, Geltow, Caputh, Ferch, Michendorf. Maßstab 1:35.000. ISBN: 978-3-86636-116-4