Tussy

The village of Caputh lies southwest of Potsdam in the state of Brandenburg. It is part of the municipality of Schwielowsee, which lies on Lake Templin and Lake Schwielowsee. The River Havel flows through both lakes. Caputh is home to a palace built by the Elector of Brandenburg about 350 years ago. There is also a house where the famous scientist Albert Einstein spent several summers before emigrating to America and never returning to Germany. As a Jew, he would have been persecuted and perhaps even murdered in Germany at the time.

Lake Templin separates the towns of Caputh and Geltow, both of which belong to the municipality of Schwielowsee. Between the two lakes there is a narrow stretch called the Caputher Gemünde. Here, the Havel is only about 80 m wide. A cable ferry lets you cross to the opposite bank.

Here’s how it works: Powered by a motor, the ferry pulls itself from one bank to the other along a guide cable. A steel cable attached to both banks serves as a support cable. It keeps the ferry on course and prevents it from drifting away.

The ferry currently in service is called “Tussy II”. It carries cars, cyclists, and pedestrians who would otherwise have to take a 20-kilometer detour. The crossing takes just a few minutes. However, you may sometimes have to wait if the ferry is on its way or at the other side.

The "Tussy II" is 23 m long and 6,03 m wide. Its maximum draft is 0,47 m. The wheelhouse and controls are located to the side, outside the vehicle deck. The ferry can carry a load of 23,6 tonnes and operates year-round, weather permitting. In summer, ferry service begins at 6 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m.

Once the ferry has docked, the cars and passengers leave the ship. New passengers are already waiting on the shore. First the cars board, then people with bicycles, followed by pedestrians. Finally, the ramp is closed and the ferry sets off. The fare is collected on board.

There was an earlier ferry, the “Tussy I.” It was in service from 1942 to 1998. During that time, it traveled more than 470,000 kilometers, though it never went faster than 5 km/h. Its deck could hold 8 cars and 220 passengers. After it was taken out of service, it was rebuilt as a monument a few meters from the ferry landing. 

Ferries operated at this spot even before the time of "Tussy I". People and animals have been crossing the Havel here since 1853. At first they used a barge, followed by a simple wooden ferry pulled across the river on ropes.

A few years ago, there was a bizarre accident at Caputher Gemünde. A driver relied on his navigation system. Because the device supposedly showed a bridge, the man simply drove straight ahead. The car and its two occupants ended up in the Havel. They escaped with nothing more than a fright.