Spree is a river originating from three sources in the Usti region of the Czech Republic in the mountains. The stream flows from south to north through the federal states of Germany: Saxony and Brandenburg - and flows into the Havel (a tributary of the Elbe) in the western part of Berlin, which makes it possible to connect the water flows leading to the North Sea for shipping.
Tourists can admire the beauty of Spree in the capital city of Berlin. Pleasure boats with open decks are organized on the river. During the trip, you can not only relax from hiking sightseeing. The river flows through the historical center of the city with beautiful museums, magnificent cathedrals, picturesque parks, and therefore it will be possible to also see many ancient arched bridges and buildings of modern Berlin.
The article will introduce readers to the description of the Spree River in Germany with tributaries and a number of locks. It will be interesting for travelers to find out what sights they can see from the side of pleasure boats in the capital, from which stop it is most convenient to start the route.
Basic information
The Spree River begins from three sources found in the Luzhitsky Mountains. Gaining strength, the water stream becomes a full-flowing navigable river, which is an important artery of Germany. It connects the Elbe, Havel and the Oder. The length of the Spree is approximately 400 km.
At the confluence of two rivers - the Havel and its tributary Spree - the city of Berlin was laid, which later became the capital of Germany. In literature, you can often find another name for the city - Athens on the Spree. The river has an area of more than 10,100 km 2 . To protect the city from constant spills, in 1965 the Spremberg dam was opened with the reservoir of the same name, located between the cities of Cottbus and Spremberg. It is the fourth largest dam in Germany, with a length of 3.7 km. In height, it rises to 20 meters, which prevented flooding in many settlements.
Spreewald
The description of the beauty of the Spree River begins with its origins in southeastern Germany. If you want to take a break from the bustle of major Berlin, go to Spreewald, which literally translates as "forest on the Spree." This is a nature reserve where the river is divided into hundreds of small branches.
According to local legend, the devil broke through the Spree channel with the help of a plow harnessed by huge bulls. They were lazy and slow. Therefore, the devil was angry and promised to send them to his grandmother, who was famous for her steep disposition. The bulls fled in panic in different directions, which is why the sleeves at the river turned out. In addition to more than 300 small channels, the villagers living in the area, for the convenience of movement on boats connected their channels.
For clarity, add a lot of trees hanging over the water on the banks, and you will understand how picturesque this corner of nature looks.
Every year, hundreds of tourists and locals come to the Spree River to relax and enjoy the beauty. Here you can take a ride on a large boat with a guide or go kayaking and kayaking on your own.
On the banks there are small village houses, buried in flowers. Each has its own pier and a well with fish caught. She is kept in a drawer, and if necessary, to cook dinner, just twist the handle of the well and get a fresh fish. Along the way, tourists can visit many cafes and restaurants with local cuisine, go to the store or relax in the gazebo on the beach.
The river in Berlin
The spree flows through the capital, wriggling in loops, until it unites in the western part of the city with the Havel river. Convenient embankments are built along it, which is a favorite vacation spot for citizens and tourists.
Opposite the central station in Hauptbahnhof are the terminus of pleasure boats. You can purchase tickets for river trips of various durations. The longest has a duration of several hours. During this journey, you will visit not only the river, but also several canals, as well as Havel.
German Venice
Walking on the ship along the Spree River, the left tributary of the Havel, many experienced tourists notice the similarity of the place with Venice. And indeed, the historic city center literally goes under the water with its foundations.
Museums and cathedrals seem to be built right on the water.
If you are traveling in Germany, be sure to ride a boat in the center of Berlin and visit the picturesque corner of the river in the Spreewald area. Get unforgettable impressions and beautiful photos to remember the trip.