Simply put, the town of Ahrensfelde in Brandenberg is a suburb of Berlin (on the northeast border of the city to be exact).
It’s not a hustle and bustle kind of town, it has a more quiet elegance than anything you’ll find in its big city neighbor. It’s a town with lots of little lanes, towering green trees, and numerous little guesthouses at a fraction of the cost of “big city” prices.
And, you guessed it, Ahrensfelde is easy enough to get to from Berlin, so staying here may make good economical sense.
Each of Ahrensfelde’s five hamlets has its own church (always a good attraction), a few from the Middle Ages; one of the most charming is the 13th century Feldsteinkirche in Mehrow.
But, the Village Church in Ahrensfelde proper seems to get more attention. Visit one, visit them all — doesn’t matter either way but one thing’s for sure, you will be impressed at the craftsmanship.
Another place that’s popular around Ahrensfelde, believe it or not, is the Ostkirchhof; a cemetery park with a chapel that’s a great example of Art Nouveau architecture.
What else can you do around Ahrensfelde? Drink. Try the Berline Weisse, a German beer that can only be produced in Berlin and surrounding areas (Ahrensfelde qualifies), according to German law. In case you didn’t get the memo, Germany takes its beer purity laws quite seriously. ;-)
This particular type of beer has been made around here since the 16th century and is best enjoyed on a hot summer day (though really, anytime is a good time for a good beer). It’s tart, so many times a shot of rasberry syrup is added; then it’s known as Red Berliner Weisse because the beer’s color changes.
White beer, red beer, doesn’t matter. Same as Ahrensfelde’s churches, you’ll be impressed with the craftsmanship.
