Go with the flow

The lakeland area between Berlin and Frankfurt an der Oder is a captivating romantic landscape dotted with tranquil villages, manor houses and churches. There are more than 270 lakes and excellent moorings here, ideal for canoeing or houseboat tours. And if any lakes deserve to be called a "sailing paradise", it must be Scharmützel Lake and Lake Schwieloch. Bad Saarow, a popular health resort, is on the banks of Lake Schwieloch. As for culture, the region positively glitters. With its historical parks and architecture, examples of 19th-century industrial culture and state-of-the-art leisure facilities, the cathedral town of Fürstenwalde is well worth visiting for a whole variety of reasons.