Woods, forests and lakes are the dominating features of Eberswalde, the centre of the rural district of Barnim in the Northeast of Brandenburg. Eberswalde borders at one of the biggest continuous woodlands in Germany, the Schorfheide. It is part of an even bigger bio sphere reserve named Schorfheide-Chorin.

Eberswald was founded as a village near an important ford of the river Finow, and was given town rights in 1254. Some years later a castle was constructed on a hill range in the South of the town, but this castle fell into ruins in the 14th century.

After Eberswalde suffered so much during the Thirty Years War that only 33 houses were left standing, some 120 cutlers and other craftsmen from Thuringia and the Rhineland decided to settle collectively in Eberswalde between 1743 and 1755 and started a new economic boom in town. At the same time Eberswalde became known as a spa.

At the marketplace the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus), an impressing building in the baroque style, is worth visiting. The Church Maria Magdalena (Maria-Magdalenen-Kirche) was built in high gothic style and possesses the biggest steeple being built of bricks worldwide. A few kilometres north of town the ruins of a former Cistercian monastary, Monastery Chorin, may be visited.

Because of the special relation of Eberswalde to the woods in its surroundings a visit to the foundation “WaldWelten” is recommended. This forest area with 140 hectares is used as a recreational area as well as to promote environmental awareness and arts in relation with forests. Fans of nature will also like Lake Werbellinsee and the woodlands of the Schorfheide, one of the biggest woods in Germany.

If you like to sample local food, you should try the “Eberswalder Spitzkuchen”, a pastry being fried in fat. Also the “Eberswalder Würstchen”, a sort of sausage resembling hot dogs, are quite famous even out of Eberswalde.

Further information: http://www.eberswalde.de/Touristinfo.1181+M5d637b1e38d.0.html

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