STORKOW (MARK)
Storkow is a small town in Brandenburg and the administrative centre of a district composed of 14 villages. It is situated approximately 40 km south east of Berlin and about 50 km west of the Polish border. It forms the heart of the Brandenburg Lake District, with the 1500-hectare Scharmützelsee and Lake Storkow, there are ideal conditions for water sports, such as sailing, canoeing and rowing. The region is full of attractive places to visit. Visitors will find a varied landscape and new things to discover every season. Since 1997, Storkow and the villages are connected by means of a comprehensive network of cycle paths and walking trails, most of which are located a good distance from major roads. Visitors have good public transport options at their disposal, with rail, road and waterway connections to Berlin.
Among the sights enjoyed by tourists are: the old town centre, the market square, the castle, the churches, Lake Storkow and the canal with its town-centre lock. The history of Storkow began over thousand years ago with a Slav settlement near where the castle stands today. The first proof we have of the town’s existence is a document from 1209, signed by the emperor Otto IV. By the middle ages, Storkow had grown rapidly and was the administrative centre of a region covering some 500 km².
The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm II promoted his state across Germany as a place to come to live and work. Several thousand families from other parts of Germany came to Prussia, with some of them settling here in the hope of finding a better life. The names of the nearby villages of Philadelphia and Neu Boston (‘New Boston’) reflect this period in history.
Today, Storkow is a small town of 6.000 inhabitants with various small industries, crafts and trades. It is also a tourist destination. The political and economical changes of the last 12 years have brought both progress and problems to the town. The markets for old industries and agriculture disappeared, with new developments needing the investment of time, money and effort. So the situation is split: we have new companies with new products and high productivity, but, on the other hand, a level of unemployment of 18%.
The town is situated on the north shore of Lake Storkow. The lake is 6 km long. The district of Karlslust started out as a destination for weekend walks; later on, new houses were built and now it is a popular residential area. At the end of the 19th century, wealthy Berlin factory owners discovered another charming lakeside location: Hubertushöhe. The hunter’s lodge of the same name was visited by German Emperor Wilhelm II. For this reason, a railway halt was built, from which today’s residents continue to profit.
However, you can also find here one of the most successful tourist ventures formed by the fishermen of Köllnitz, with opportunities for fishing combined with a restaurant, hotel and museum. Thousands of wild geese, ducks and other birds come here to breed every year.
Not forgetting the storks, of course. They strut majestically through fields and meadows and fly gracefully over the town and the villages. We are currently making an effort to help more stork families settle in the Storkow area. Stopping over between his summer and winter residences, the stork is a true internationalist. As for us, we tend to stay where we are and keep Europe as our home. But, from time to time, we like to travel, get to know new people, new countries. We want to travel in a spirit of peace and friendship. This idea takes us neatly to the advantages of our membership in the European Stork City Organisation, an international association of eight European towns and cities, each with a stork on their coat of arms.
Visitor Centre at the Dahme-Heideseen nature reserve
The Visitor Centre provides information about nature and the environment and makes it possible to experience the natural world first hand and in a creative way.
As a point of contact for tourists and a showcase for the whole region, it is synonymous with natural adventures, with relaxation and activities, and with fun and games for young and old alike. Temporary exhibits complement the permanent exhibition. Qualified guides are on hand to look after visitors and experts provide advice on the local wildlife and nature reserves. The centre can also plan and provide written information covering the region and further afield as well as offer expert tours of the exhibitions. Training sessions, events and environmental education classes can also be organised via the Visitor Centre, which belongs to a network covering the whole of Brandenburg.
Further information on European and German Nature Parks: http://www.european-parks.org/
Storkow Castle
The people and town council of Storkow (Mark) putted all their efforts into rebuilding the 800-year-old castle after it was burnt down in a fire in 1978. With the help of the European Union and the state of Brandenburg, all castle buildings are finaly rebuilt after 20 years. There you can find the tourist information centre, the visitor centre at the Dahme-Heideseen nature reserve, the public library, a permanent exhibition and two function rooms and a modern open-air stage display the cultural life of the town. A café within the historical walls offers a selection of hand-made, freshly baked, goods and patisseries.
Contact and Information
Unfortunately, we cannot present all the items of this site in English. Please contact us at the tourist information centre.