On the hunt for gherkins in the Spreewald – Gherkin bike path

Get ready to track down the Spreewald gherkin on the 260-kilometre (161-mile) Gherkin bike path (Gurkenradweg) through the Spreewald forest in north-east Germany. On the way, you ride through the UNESCO biosphere reserve, picturesque floodplains, quaint Spreewald villages, and interesting cultural sites. Of course, you will also have plenty of opportunities to try the Spreewald gherkin, a traditionally pickled cucumber from Brandenburg that can be pickled with mustard, pepper, garlic, honey mustard, horseradish, or chili. If your mouth is already watering then hop on your bike and follow the gherkin through the Spreewald.

The Gherkin bike path runs from the town of Lübben in three circular loops. On the first circular, you ride eastwards through the Spreewald to the towns of Lübbenau and Burg and on to the cultural city of Cottbus. From here, you cycle back westwards through wonderful pond landscapes, completing the circle in the towns of Burg and Lübben. The north trail takes you through the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the typical Spreewald town of Schlepzig, and past picturesque swimming lakes. The final loop heads west to the town of Golßen, where the traditional Spreewald Gurkentag (cucumber day) takes place each August.

The cycle path is signposted with a friendly, cycling gherkin which you can also find on the label of the gherkin Radler drink from Kirchers brewery. If you can’t get enough of this pickled cucumber, then you should definitely try this drink! However, this Tour is not just for gherkin lovers. Aside from stunning landscapes, you can also try other local delicacies in the Spreewald such as jacket potatoes with freshly pressed linseed oil and curd and carp that is freshly caught from nearby lakes. There are plenty of delicious things to spoil yourself with after your ride.

This Collection guides you along the Gherkin bike path in five stages. With just one exception, the Tour is flat the entire way, making it ideal for families and older cyclists. Ranging in length from 45 to 60 kilometres (27 to 37 miles), the routes are quite physically challenging. Of course, it’s up to you whether you ride all of the stages at once or just complete one leg.

From Lübben, you can choose to just do one of the circulars as a day trip. Or, you can cycle from Lübben to Cottbus on a weekend trip with an overnight stay. If you are planning a longer holiday in Brandenburg, then you can combine this route with the Tour Brandenburg or the Spree Cycle Route. This way, you can tailor the Gherkin bike path to suit your own travel plans.

You can always find overnight accommodation at the stage destinations, but it’s a good idea to book in advance, especially in the smaller towns. You can travel to the cycle path by train via Lübben, Lübbenau, Cottbus, or Vetschau. These towns have excellent regional train connections to Berlin and the rest of Brandenburg. So grab your bike, get on the train and look forward to 'cucumbering' around in the Spreewald.