Page 259
SPREEWALD. Section 16. 209
accessible only by water, or in winter over the ice. In the farming
district of Burg the widely scattered wooden houses may be reached on
foot, but many water-channels have to he crossed by curiously-built
bridges. — A visit to the Spreewald is most conveniently made in May
or September. In summer the gnats are very troublesome.
Railway toLubben, 467a 31., in l8/4 hr. — To(1772 31.) Konigs-
Wusterhausen, see p. 202.
4672 31. Liibben (Stadt Berlin, R. l72-272, D. 17,-2 Jl;
Goldener Stern, both very fair), an old town with 7200 inhab., is
surrounded by four arms of the Spree. Paul Gerhardt (p. 148), who
was archdeacon from 1668, died here in 1676 and is buried in the
parish-church, in front of which a monument, by Pfannschmidt,
was erected to him in 1907. Between the station and the (1 31.)
town, we pass an attractive grove with a bronze statue of Minister
von Manteuffel (d. 1882), unveiled in 1908.
Liibben'is the best starting-point for an excursion in the Lower
Spreewald. The most convenient plan is to proceed from Liibben
by boat (ample notice to the boatman should be given at the hotel)
via Schlepzig (Gottlieb's Hotel zum Unterspreewald, R. 1-2, pens.
3-4 Jl) to the Pukl and Gross-Wusserburg, although by this
route the woods are not reached until 2 hrs. after starting. An
alternative plan is to drive to Schlepzig (F/2 hr.; 5-7 Jl) and thence
take a boat. — From Gross-Wasserburg (inn) we may either return
by boat through the woods to the landing-place of Hartmanns-
dorf, and walk thence via this village to the (172 hr.) station of
Liibben; or we may proceed by rail from the station of Hartmanns-
dorf, l*/2 M. from the landing-place.
Those bound for the Upper Spreewald go on by railway beyond
Liibben to (5372 31.) Liibbenau (Brainier Hirsch, Deutsches
Hans, both in the market-place; in summer rooms should be secured
beforehand), a little town with 3800 inhab. and a chateau and park
of Count Lynar. The boatmen of the Spreewald Society may be found
stationed at the E. end of the town (1 31. from the station) or may
be enquired for at the hotels. Tariff 60 pf. per hr. besides a retain-
ing-fee of 1 Jl, and 60 pf. more for every hour; if the boatman is
dismissed at Burg, 2 Jl 40 are due for his return-journey. The
usual boating-trip from Liibbenau (6 hrs., not incl. halts; fatiguing)
is that via Lchde (see below), the Wotsclmfska Restaurant, (also
R., good), the forester's houses of Kannomilhle and Eiche (small
restaurant near) situated in the woods, and then via the Polenz-
Schenke Restaurant and Leipe (inn) back to Liibbenau. — An idea
of the curious residential and domestic arrangements of the Spree¬
wald may, however, be obtained by a trip (1 Jl) from Liibbenau
via the Lubbenauer Kaupen to the (l/2 hr.) village of *Lehde (Inn
zum Frohlichen Hecht, with an annexe for tourists, 36 R. at l3/4-
274> B-3A~*), the 'Venice of the Spreewald'. — An interesting
spectacle is offered on Sun. by the gay costumes of the Spreewald
Baedeker's Berlin. 3rd Edit. 14.