Water, woods and quiet
Holiday on Lake Mellensee, nature on Berlin's doorstep
Water sports, bike rides and long evenings on the terrace. The guest house in Saalow is your quiet base for trips to Potsdam, Berlin and Tropical Islands.
- Garden and terraceFor breakfast in the sun and relaxed evenings.
- Family room for up to 4Large double bed, bunk bed and sofa bed in 20 m².
- Places to visit nearbyTropical Islands and Potsdam are each around 45 km away.
- Children welcomeChildren of all ages are very welcome.
The lake
Lake Mellensee
Lake Mellensee lies in the Töpchin valley, a meltwater channel from the last Ice Age. Its name probably comes from a Slavic word meaning shallows: much of the lake is shallow, and its deepest point is 9 m.
The River Notte flows in from the south and leaves the lake as the Notte Canal towards Königs Wusterhausen. The canal was built around 1600 to ship bricks and gypsum from the area to Berlin.
The guest house is in the centre of Saalow. The shore is about 2 km away, the beaches just under 4 km.
Facts
- Area
- 2.16 km²
- Length and width
- about 3 km × 1.1 km
- Depth
- up to 9 m, 3.1 m on average
- Inflow
- River Notte from the Wünsdorf lakes
- Outflow
- Notte Canal, about 25 km to Königs Wusterhausen
- Fish
- including carp, zander and eel
Source: Wikipedia, Mellensee (See)
Swimming
Two beaches with good water quality
Both swimming spots are monitored under the EU directive. By bike you are there in about a quarter of an hour.
Mellensee beach
EU bathing water, rated “good”
On the north shore, with SUP hire, beach volleyball and a playground.
about 4 km, around 15 min by bike
Klausdorf beach
EU bathing water, rated “excellent”
On the west shore, with a water slide, rowing boat hire and a snack bar.
about 4 km, around 15 min by bike
Current readings and notices, for example about blue-green algae in high summer, are published by the State of Brandenburg on its bathing water portal. Brandenburg bathing water portal
Saalow and surroundings
Out and about around the lake
- Rail bike line from MellenseeOn the disused railway from Zossen via Mellensee to Jüterbog you pedal your own rail bike. At 40 km, the operator calls it the longest rail bike line in Germany. Mellensee station is just under 3 km from the guest house.
- Two windmills in SaalowA five-minute walk away stands the barn windmill, built in 1864 and rebuilt in Saalow in 1992/93. It opens on selected Sundays from Easter to harvest festival, with a mill festival on German Mill Day at Whitsun. The post mill came to Saalow from Berlin-Schöneberg in 1903.
- Fontane trail through SaalowHiking trail F4 runs from Mittenwalde via Zossen, Mellensee and Saalow to Trebbin. It starts practically on the doorstep.
- On the waterRowing boats and SUP boards can be hired at the beaches. The Notte Canal links the lake with the River Dahme, but the lock at Königs Wusterhausen has been closed since 2022, so boating through to Berlin is currently not possible.
Day trips
Places to visit by car
From the guest house, nature reserves, museums, Potsdam and Berlin are all within reach for a day trip.
| Destination | Distance | Approx. drive |
|---|---|---|
| ZossenSmall old town with a Baroque church | 7 km | 10 min |
| Sperenberg gypsum quarriesNature reserve with a panoramic trail over the gypsum hill | 10 km | 15 min |
| Wünsdorf book and bunker townSecond-hand bookshops and guided bunker tours | 10 km | 15 min |
| Kummersdorf museumTechnical history of the former army test site | 13 km | 15 min |
| Fläming-Skate near JänickendorfAbout 230 km of wide paths for skating and cycling | 28 km | 30 min |
| Baruth glassworks museum villageGlassworks since 1716, now a museum village | 32 km | 40 min |
| Zinna AbbeyCistercian abbey founded in 1170, with a museum | 40 km | 35 min |
| Potsdam, Sanssouci PalaceFrederick the Great's summer palace and park | 45 km | 45 min |
| Tropical IslandsTropical water park in a former airship hangar | 45 km | 50 min |
| Berlin, Brandenburg GateBy car or on the RE8 train from Zossen | 47 km | 60 min |
| Spreewald, LübbenauPunt trips from the main Spreewald harbour | 70 km | 65 min |
By car without traffic, calculated with OpenStreetMap. Please check opening times with each destination before you go.
Rooms
Our rooms
Photo coming soon
There is no photo of the Single Room yet.Frequently asked questions
Answers at a glance
How far is it to Lake Mellensee?
The guest house is in the centre of Saalow, about 2 km from the shore. The two beaches at Mellensee and Klausdorf are just under 4 km away, around 15 minutes by bike.
What is there to do in the area?
Swimming, paddling and cycling around the lake, rail bike trips from Mellensee and walks on the Fontane trail. Nearby are the book and bunker town of Wünsdorf and the Sperenberg gypsum quarries nature reserve. Tropical Islands and Potsdam with Sanssouci Palace are each about 45 kilometres away, Berlin-Rudow around 33 kilometres.
Can you swim in Lake Mellensee?
Yes. The Mellensee and Klausdorf beaches are EU bathing waters, rated “good” and “excellent”. Current readings and notices, for example about blue-green algae, are on the State of Brandenburg's bathing water portal.
Can you go boating on the lake?
Rowing boats and SUP boards can be hired at the beaches. You cannot currently reach Berlin via the Notte Canal, as the lock at Königs Wusterhausen has been closed since 2022.
What is the rail bike line at Mellensee?
On the disused line from Zossen via Mellensee to Jüterbog you ride pedal-powered rail bikes. At 40 km, the operator calls it the longest rail bike line in Germany. Mellensee station is just under 3 km from the guest house, about 12 minutes by bike.
Are children welcome?
Yes, children of all ages. Our family room sleeps up to four. Unfortunately we do not have cots.