„Half an hour to Berlin” is the title of an illustrated book about Trebbin that was published in 1993. Still, Germany’s capital is half an hour away from the small town of Trebbin - to be exact: 36 km southwest of Berlin’s city centre - but a lot of things have changed since the beginning of the 90ies. Located in Brandenburg’s rural district Teltow-Fläming and at the river Nuthe Trebbin adjoins to the natural resort Nuthe-Nieplitz. 13 districts belong to the city; one of them is Blankensee, a village of 500 inhabitants with a lake, a castle and a palace garden.

In recent years new dwelling zones - named „Am Mühlengraben” and „Weinberg” - were raised in Trebbin. Many new detached houses and apartment buildings are now home for long-time residents as well as newcomers. Different apartment houses were redeveloped and five different supermarkets vie for the small-towners. Trebbin is a good place to live in.

Before the wall came down the city was headed “Flower city”. Then the small town changed its face and became the “city of furniture” according to the increased industrial location of furniture stores. Unfortunately the company “Möbel Tegeler”, which was established in 1995, had to go into administration. But other companies like the Märkische Büromöbelwerke Trebbin GmbH, are still present. Some of them export their office furnitures for example to Russia.

Besides furniture Sport is another important topic in the small town of 9.300 inhabitants. In September 2003 e.g. a new gym was opened and one year later Trebbin celebrated the dedication of a new club house.

One of the biggest events in Trebbin is the annual US-Car-Meeting. But also sights like the parish church St. Marien and the hospital chapel St. Anna, different cultural institutions as well as sports facilities offer a variety of recreational activities.

This year Trebbin’s inhabitants joint for the first generation festival, a celebration where old and young people meet. It is a combination of the children’s festival in the frame of the International Children’s Day on the first of June and the senior week. “We should all approach one another that is how I see Trebbin’s future”, stated Trebbin’s Mayor Thomas Berger during the festival. To strengthen relationships between youths and older people is one aim so that young people can benefit from elder’s experiences.  “These are the experiences that our kids cannot make in kindergarten or school”, so Berger.

Another important institution is the Clauert House in the town centre named after the regional Tyll Owlglass, Hans Clauert, who became famous for his devilments and inspired the author Bartholomäus Krüger to a droll story. Today the Clauert House is the place for concerts, theater, seminars and workshops and of course for celebration – after all it should be a place for amusement.

Furthermore Trebbin is surrounded by splendidly constructed cycle tracks and hiking trails. The countryside that visitors can explore outside of the small town is the perfect place for nature lovers.

Havelland-Fläming Region is the heart of "Mark Brandenburg":

From here the sovereigns, electors of German kings (since 1356) and later Prussian kings (since 1701) ruled and created a powerful state from a poor, wild and remote region.

The heart of the Mark beats strong: The region holds a leading economic position in East Germany is respected as a centre of innovation and scientific research of European importance and is world famous for the unique cultural heritage of Potsdam's parks and palaces.

Aside from the capital Potsdam the region is characterised by a ring of smaller towns, most of them with busy historic town centres and some three hundred proper villages surrounded by a wide and beautiful countryside, fields, forests, rivers and lakes.

If you like to discover success and contrasts you have to visit Havelland-Fläming Region:

Due to the Region characteristic by an urban structured part close to Berlin and a rural part, starting with a distance more than 20 km far away from Berlin, you will find a mix of success stories, surprises and disparities at close range. Resulting on demographic change processes also you will find declining rural towns, even there are good infrastructure, lovely nature and many traditions. Basing on migration of most young people since 1989 some rural areas are expecting depopulation until 2030 up to minus 30 percent additional.

Therefore regional and local Trans in Form activities focus on management of rural town centres under above mentioned circumstances. In all Regions’ rural sub-areas you will find interesting history and their relicts: from progressive reforms by Friedrich II … Napoleon’s époque battle fields … airplane pioneer Lilienthal … basic aerospace research activities by Wernher von Braun … actions of the Nazi regime resistance “Kreisauer Kreis” … - to use for and to combine with new narratives attendance. Capitalise of right potentials, low prices and innovative ideas shall stage variety of rural towns. They are key elements for stabilisation and improvement of living quality and finally individualised answers on the metropolis oriented globalised world.

Contact and visit us – take part, you are very welcome!