Wootz is an example of a linear marsh village in the Lenzer Wische. The village can also be understood through two different route options: the signposted Lenzerwische Tour follows the Elbe dike near Wootz; a handbike tour turns inland from the dike here and runs across meadows and fields to the Löcknitz. The village church, with its Late Gothic carved altarpiece, adds to this picture. Wischehof Wootz is a seasonally operated guesthouse 500 metres from the Elbe.
Village Layout and Architectural History
A linear marsh village is characterised by a loose row of farmsteads, each with adjoining strips of farmland. The farmsteads are aligned directly along, or parallel to, natural or man-made lines, such as dikes, embankments, canals or paths. The linear marsh villages of the Lenzer Wische are associated with Flemish settlers. In Wootz, this settlement pattern can be considered as a distinct perspective on the village layout alongside its individual buildings.
The church in Wootz is a plain, rectangular half-timbered building with exposed brickwork. Its small roof turret is clad in wooden boards; the building dates from the first half of the 17th century. Inside is a large Late Gothic carved altarpiece. The Lenzerwische Bicycle Tour also notes North German hall houses in Wootz, which are characteristic of the Wische’s typical architectural style. Different aspects of the area’s architectural history can therefore be seen side by side here: the settlement pattern, a 17th-century church building and the hall houses typical of the Wische.
Cycling Routes near Wootz
The signposted Lenzerwische Tour is 27 kilometres long. It runs from Lenzen via Mödlich, Wootz, Seedorf and Eldenburg, returning to Lenzen; near Wootz, it follows the Elbe dike. This makes it a named circular route with a set sequence of places and a specified total length.
The Elbe handbike tour follows a different route: near Wootz, it turns inland from the dike and runs across meadows and fields to the Löcknitz. The two routes can be distinguished by their described courses: one is a 27-kilometre loop through several villages, while the other is a section through the land behind the dike to the Löcknitz. Check current route conditions before setting out.
Accommodation and Season
Wischehof Wootz is a guesthouse 500 metres from the Elbe and operates seasonally. If you would like to stay there, check the operating dates and availability for your travel dates before your trip.
In the Wider Lenzerwische Destination
In Mödlich, within the wider Lenzerwische destination, a typical linear marsh village stretches for several kilometres along the Elbe dike. The village church was built beside the Elbe dike in the 15th century and is the last surviving “moorland church” in the state of Brandenburg. The church contains the coffin of Gijsels van Lier, who died in 1676. The more than 100-year-old Eiseiche oak also stands in Mödlich; it illustrates the effects of a winter flood.
A sculpture in Mödlich depicts Charon, the mythical ferryman of the underworld. It was created by Bernd Streiter, an artist who lives in Mödlich. In Kietz, a designated three-kilometre circular trail leads to historic sites. The “Burgwall Kietz” nature stop invites visitors to discover traces of an early German castle complex.
The history of the Kietz village church is also part of the historical context of the Lenzerwische: during the GDR era, it was in a restricted area, could only be used sporadically and fell into increasing disrepair.
Discover more destinations: Berge, Lenzerwische, Eldenburg, Meyenburg, Lenzen, Gerdshagen, Weisen, Bad Wilsnack.
Back to the main travel overview: Prignitz.
