Spree Forest

(Local Name: Spreewald) Land: Brandenburg

Situation and characteristics

The Spreewald (Sorbian Blota, "marshland") is a charming area of woodland and water 100km/60mi south of Berlin. Its uniqueness lies not only in the pattern of its landscape but also in the individuality of the Sorbs who make up the majority of the population.

In the past the only means of transport in the Spreewald was by boat on the numerous little watercourses, and every farm had its own little harbor. Nowadays, with protection against flooding and regulation of the water supply, the Spreewald has become an area of intensively cultivated large farm holdings.

In 1908 a boatmen's association was founded