Kyritz combines town history with nature around the Kyritz Lake Chain. The imposing twin-tower façade of St. Mary's Church, the castle-like town hall and the Bassewitz Fountain give the town's history a tangible setting. The lake chain adds lakeside paths, a glacial meltwater channel about 20 kilometres long and a seasonal ferry service. When planning your trip, it is worth bearing in mind the different times and seasons for visits and activities.
Church, Monastery and Town History
St. Mary's Church in Kyritz has an imposing twin-tower façade. The church is open Monday to Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; check the opening hours before your trip. The Franciscan Monastery of St. John was established in the second half of the 13th century. The renovated north wall of the monastery church and the monastery wall in Kyritz provide a backdrop for open-air events. If you plan to attend an event, check the specific date in advance.
The local history museum in the building at Johann-Sebastian-Bach-StraĂźe 6 offers insights into Kyritz's town history. The long market square also has several historical points of interest: it is home to a castle-like town hall containing one of the oldest Bibles, dating from the 15th century. Since 2007, the Bassewitz Fountain on the market square has told stories about the town and its history. The fountain, created by artist Jan Witte-Kropius, was inspired by the Bassewitz legend. Numerous half-timbered houses shape the townscape and mostly date from the 19th century. Together, the town hall, fountain and half-timbered houses offer different perspectives on the town's history and architecture.
The Kyritz Lake Chain and Its Paths
Kyritz lies within the “Kyritz Lake Chain” landscape conservation area. The lake chain extends from Bork-Lellichow to Wusterhausen as a glacial meltwater channel about 20 kilometres long. It is a large recreational area for anglers, campers, cyclists, hikers and water sports enthusiasts. Motorboats with combustion engines are not permitted on the Kyritz Lake Chain. From May to September, the ferry runs from the Kyritz shore via Untersee Island to Bantikow. Check the timetable before your trip.
A natural walking trail runs directly along the shore around Untersee. The circular route around Untersee is 19 kilometres long and is listed as taking six hours. The start and finish are at Kyritz beach; there is another start and finish point at Uferweg 1 in Wusterhausen/Dosse. The approximately 20 kilometres refers to the extent of the lake chain, while 19 kilometres is the length of the circular route. This distinction helps separate the scale of the landscape from the specific walk. For planning your day, the six-hour estimate for the circular route is a useful guide; the lakeside path is described as a separate walking trail running directly beside the water.
Planning Your Time and Getting There
The church, ferry and circular route follow different schedules: the church has daily opening hours, the ferry runs seasonally from May to September, and the circular route is listed as taking six hours. For a short stay, you can therefore decide first whether to focus on a cultural visit, the seasonal ferry trip or the longer walk. If the ferry is part of your plans, check its timetable; also confirm the church's opening hours before your visit. Kyritz railway station is one of the town's transport connections.
Discover more destinations: Breddin, Berlinchen, Gartow, Lindow, Heiligengrabe, RĂĽthnick, Neuruppin, Neustadt
Return to the regional travel overview: Ostprignitz-Ruppin.
