Manuel Andrack reports:
Berlin has 3.76 million inhabitants, and the trend is rising. If they all went hiking at the same time, the banks of the Spree and Havel rivers and the Grunewald forest would be crowded—very, very crowded. Too crowded. That is why it is wonderful that the area surrounding Berlin (also known as Brandenburg) has landscapes that are, firstly, less well known and, secondly, therefore not as overrun. In 2012, the German Hiking Day took place in the Fläming, a flat, gently hilly landscape. Ahead of this event, I was able to hike the art trail between Bad Belzig and Wiesenburg. Including all the loops and detours (for example, to Hagelberg, which at 200.3 meters is the Mount Everest of the Fläming—with a summit register!
I recommend starting with the southern route. It is 16.8 kilometers long and can easily be completed as a day trip. We start at the train station in Wiesenburg; the first highlight is the castle, and above all, its impressive park. Not as French as Versailles, but more English in style, like the world-famous gardens of Wörlitz. This is outstanding garden design and therefore fits perfectly with the International Art Trail. But why is this trail called “International”? The artworks along the route were created as part of an international competition. This suits the Fläming, which carries its migration history in its very name. Because many Flemish people settled in this region over the centuries, a kind of East Holland emerged right outside Berlin’s gates. But now, on to some of the artworks.
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The wooden sculpture by Susken Rosenthal is very impressive. Beneath the pine trees: forest conversations between trunks and beams. A very beautiful idea: The beams have returned to their homeland. Scattered around as if by chance, they embrace and entwine the tall pine trees. Culture in dialogue with nature. And if you listen very carefully, you can eavesdrop on the forest conversations. Between us, they are not exactly highly intellectual conversations. They are more about everyday topics such as wind, weather, the seasons—and what the little ones are up to.
The enormous cow udders frolicking in the pasture near Wiesenburg are also very beautiful. The title given to this artwork by Dutch artist Silke de Bolle is rather cryptic and can only be understood with a Dutch dictionary, because “kuieren” means walking in Dutch and “uier” means udder.
It is a little spooky to suddenly come across howling wolves by the side of the trail. But I can reassure you: they do nothing, they just want to play. I thought the artworks along this hiking trail were exceptionally successful. Seventeen artifacts are gathered along the southern route; all of them are highly original and adapt to the respective landscape type: forest, pasture, meadow, viaduct. Better than any Documenta, one trail reviewer wrote online.
In Bad Belzig, you should definitely take a look at the imposing castle and have a beer at the local brewery. Perhaps you will meet someone you can raise a glass with. Cheers—to the International Art Trail in the Fläming!
