Discover Parlow through nature observation and village history. The observation tower offers views of a moor at the site of the former Lake Melln; the granary and church bring the area’s architectural history to life. Circular trails lead to an old cemetery, a memorial stone or a lakeshore resting spot. The landscape, places of remembrance and cranes each provide a different focus.

Moorland and wildlife watching

Parlow is a village surrounded by fields, with forests all around. The observation tower near Parlow is in the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve and offers views over a moor at the site of the former Lake Melln. The lake is no longer visible today. The moor provides a habitat for brown mosses and peat mosses.

Cranes can be observed migrating through the area around the village and, with a little luck, during the breeding season too. From the observation tower at the silted-up shallow lake with its valuable remnants of moorland, visitors can also spot deer, meadow-nesting birds and numerous birds of prey. Nature observation is therefore rewarding both in the wider area around the village and at the specific viewpoint; for cranes, both migration and the possibility of sightings during the breeding season are relevant.

Circular trails with different points of interest

The Mellin Circular Trail passes the old cemetery of the vanished village of Mellin and the Franz Neumann memorial stone. The stone commemorates the founder of theoretical and mathematical physics. These stops represent different historical connections: the cemetery recalls a village that no longer exists, while the memorial stone commemorates a figure from the history of science.

The Prüßnick Circular Trail has a different focus: it invites visitors to stop and rest on the shore of the Great or Little Prüßnick Lake at any time of year. Those choosing between the two routes will find a clear distinction: the Mellin Circular Trail focuses on the cemetery and memorial stone, while the Prüßnick Circular Trail offers a lakeside resting spot.

Granary and village church

The restored granary is the historical and cultural heart of the village. It dates from around 1860, was formerly part of an estate and has largely retained its original appearance. Its features include a working grist mill and an exhibition about cranes and village life. The historic architecture, mill and exhibition give the building several distinct facets.

The village church is a single-nave, Romanesque Revival brick building with an apse and west tower. It was consecrated in 1860; Moritz von Wedel–Parlow had it built at his own expense. The dates refer to different things: for the granary, the date is its period of construction; for the church, it is the year of consecration. “Romanesque Revival” describes a design inspired by Romanesque architectural forms; the details about the nave, apse and west tower specify the church’s design.

Cranes at the information center

The Crane Information Center in Parlow offers a photo exhibition, a film and information materials. It provides a way to explore the subject of cranes beyond observing them in the surrounding area: at the observation tower, the focus is on the landscape and wildlife watching; at the information center, it is on the exhibition, film and materials. These two ways of discovering the area have different focuses and do not describe the same experience.

For the broader travel overview: Friedrichswalde.