 | | This destination is suitable for young and old alike. You can have fun
whatever the weather, experiment, learn, dream, and experience your
homeland, marvelling about past, present and future.
Fly across the Müritz together with the cranes, admire the facsimile of one of the 1000-year-old oaks, or use a small submarine camera to film the large Mecklenburg carp in the outside pools. | Tip No. 2: Crane-watching on the Müritz
Every year in autumn, when the big balls of straw are standing in the fields along the Müritz and the harvest is in, that is the time for the cranes and wild geese. Every morning and evening, the air is filled with
their trumpeting and chatter.
 | |
Well into November, thousands of these
"lucky birds" will be resting here and feeding on the leftovers from
the stubble fields along the Müritz to put on some winter fat before
departing on their migration to southern climes.
Whether in the Müritz National Park or on the west
bank of the Müritz, at this time of year there are plenty of guided
ornithological tours to the cranes' nesting and feeding grounds.
Gutshaus Ludorf offers a fitting package under the title of
"Crane-watching".
|
Tip No. 3: Castle hiking path between Burg Stargard and Burg Penzlin
 | | The hike begins at Burg Stargard, the oldest
remaining hilltop castle in north Germany. The castle was at one time
the political and strategic centre of eastern Mecklenburg. Dukes and
military leaders used to reside here.
The imposing brick castle, rising 50 metres above the town, stands witness to this momentous past. Looking down from the castle tower, in good visibility it is possible to see as far as 30 km into the Mecklenburg countryside. |
The hike takes us first of all through a wooded area up to the village of Ballwitz. In 2001, Ballwitz was voted "Mecklenburg-West Pomerania's Most Beautiful Village". Our walk continues through a magnificent nature conservation area to Prillwitz hunting lodge with its hotel and restaurant.
Our route then takes us to Schloss Hohenzieritz, the home of the former Duke of Mecklenburg, father of Queen Louise of Prussia, who died here at the age of 34. Nestled between Hohenzieritz and Werder lies the Rosenholz nature conservation area with its interesting spring moors and stocks of trees.
 | | Keeping to the footpath, we eventually arrive at
the broad town lake in Penzlin. The old Penzlin castle, nowadays a
museum devoted to the subject of sorcery and witch hunting in
Mecklenburg, was owned between 1501 and 1929 by the von Maltzan family,
who were descended from knights. Guided tours are available with
information on the dismal history of witch hunting in the 17th century.
Hikers should not miss this walking tour! |
|