Grünau: Regatta History and Nature

Grünau can be explored through two themes: water sports history and nature. The regatta course, the Grünau Water Sports Museum and Krumme Lake offer different perspectives on the area; Strandbad Grünau is another idea for a visit. If you’re looking for a hotel in Grünau, you can first consider whether historic sites, nature trails or time for swimming should be the focus of your stay.

The Regatta Venue and Its History

The 2,000-metre-long Grünau regatta course hosted the canoeing and rowing events at the 1936 Olympic Games. An earlier milestone dates back to 1880, when the first Berlin rowing regatta was held on the course. These two dates mark different chapters in the history of regattas: the first Berlin rowing regatta and the Olympic events.

The regatta course underwent extensive modernisation for the 1936 Olympic Games. New features included boathouses, a large grandstand and additional facilities such as the so-called Kaiser Pavilion. The Olympic chapter is therefore defined not only by the sporting events held there, but also by the construction work carried out at the time.

Grünau Water Sports Museum

The Grünau Water Sports Museum reopened on 6 September 2024 with the newly designed permanent exhibition “Wasser Sport Grünau”. The exhibition presents the history of the regatta venue, the development of boatbuilding and Grünau’s diverse club scene. It looks beyond individual competitions: boats and club life are also among the museum’s topics.

The museum also offers themed tours and workshops for schools and clubs. Visitors interested in the history of the venue can explore several topics in the exhibition, from the historic site and boatbuilding to the clubs.

Wetland, Forest and Trails

Krumme Lake forms a varied wetland complex amid the dry, pine-covered Grünau Forest. Alder carr forests, sedge fens, reed beds and groundwater-influenced birch-pedunculate oak forests shape the landscape. These habitats make up the diversity of the wetland complex, while the pine forest provides a different landscape setting.

Visitors can explore the varied nature along Krumme Lake on narrow paths. Another suggested route is called “SO16: Fairytale Forests in Grünau” and leads through the Grünau Forest. Both the paths along Krumme Lake and a named route through the forest can help with planning; no specific walking time is given for these options.

Strandbad and Swimming

Strandbad Grünau has a large sandy beach with beach chairs. There are also playgrounds for young swimmers. The lido thus adds an option for swimming and play to the nature and history experiences. Operating details vary by season, so check them separately before visiting.

Grünau as a Historic Day-Trip Destination

Grünau’s earlier development was also linked to transport connections: after a railway stop was built on the Berlin–Görlitz Railway, which opened in 1866, and a landing stage opened that same year by the Berliner Dampfschifffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft, Grünau became a popular day-trip destination. This historical development adds another perspective on the area to the later points of interest around the regatta course and the Olympic Games.

When choosing your stay, you can weigh up different interests: regatta history and the exhibition, nature trails or the lido. The historical dates are distinct: 1880 marks the first Berlin rowing regatta on the course, while 1936 marks the Olympic canoeing and rowing events and the modernisation of the venue.

Discover more destinations: Charlottenburg, Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, Spandau, Wannsee, Hellersdorf, Marzahn, Rahnsdorf, Steglitz

See the main travel overview: Berlin.