A journey through art and landscape
Manuel Andrack reports:
Berlin has 3.76 million inhabitants, and the trend is rising. If they all start hiking at the same time, the Spree, Havel and Grunewald will be full, very, very full. Too crowded. That's why it's nice that there are landscapes in the area around Berlin (also known as Brandenburg) that are firstly not so well known and secondly therefore not so crowded. In 2012, the German Hiking Day took place in the Fläming, a flat, gently rolling landscape. In the run-up to this event, I was able to walk the art trail between Bad Belzig and Wiesenburg. Including all loops and detours (for example to the Hagelberg, the Mount Everest of the Fläming at 200.3 meters - with a summit book!
I recommend taking the southern route first. It is 16.8 kilometers long and can easily be done as a day tour. We start at the train station in Wiesenburg, the first highlight is the castle, especially the impressive castle park. Not as French as Versailles, more English like the world-famous gardens of Wörlitz. This is very high horticultural art and therefore fits in with the International Art Trail. But why is this trail called "International"? The works of art along the path were created as part of an international competition. This fits in with the Fläming region, which already bears its migration history in its name. Because many Flemings settled in this region for centuries, a kind of East Holland was created on the outskirts of Berlin. But now to some of the works of art.
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The wooden sculpture by Susken Rosenthal is very impressive. Under pine trees. Forest conversations between the trunks and beams. A very nice idea: the beams have returned to their home. As if randomly thrown together, they embrace and ensnare the tall pines. Culture in dialog with nature. And if you listen very carefully, you can overhear the forest conversations. Between you and me, not exactly highly intellectual conversations. It's more about everyday topics such as wind, weather, seasons - and what do the little ones do?
The huge cow udders romping around in the pasture near Wiesenburg are also very beautiful. The title that the Dutch artist Silke de Bolle gave this work of art is a bit of a puzzle and can only be understood with a Dutch dictionary. Because Kuieren means walking in Dutch and Uier means udder.
It's a bit creepy to suddenly come across howling wolves at the side of the path. But I can reassure you, they're not doing anything, they just want to play. I found the works of art along this hiking trail really exceptionally successful. 17 artefacts are dotted along the southern route, all of them very original and adapted to the respective type of landscape: Forest, pasture, meadow, viaduct. Better than any documenta, said one trail reviewer on the net.
In Bad Belzig, you should definitely visit the defiant castle and have a beer in the local brewery. Maybe you'll even meet someone you can raise a glass to. Cheers to the International Art Trail in Fläming!