Several themes come together when planning a trip to Ihlow: a Gothic village church with a double-pointed tower, the history of a narrow-gauge railway, and distinctive landscapes in the municipality. Inline skating is now possible on the former railway line; in Mehlsdorf, signposted routes are available for cycling and hiking. If you are looking for accommodation, you can base your choice on whether architectural history, outdoor activities, or rural landscapes should shape your stay.
Church architecture in Ihlow and the municipality
The village church in the district of Ihlow was built around 1300 as a rectangular Gothic hall church made of dressed fieldstones. It has the only double-pointed church tower among the village churches in the Fläming. Its construction period, floor plan, and materials each describe a different aspect of the building; the unusual tower adds a distinctive architectural feature. The church can therefore be understood not only in terms of its age, but also its design and distinctive tower.
There is also a village church in the center of Rietdorf, a locality in the municipality of Ihlow. It is late Romanesque and built from granite blocks. Compared with the Gothic church in Ihlow, two differences stand out: the architectural period and the building material. Those interested in village churches will therefore find different architectural points of interest within the municipality.
Landscape, legends, and village life
About 2.5 kilometers southwest of Ihlow, Borchelt lies in a marshy lowland. The Slavic ring rampart has a ditch running around it. The site is associated with a former Wendish sacrificial site and a later robber-knight castle. Borchelt adds a different theme to the church architecture: a ring rampart in a lowland landscape and the historical interpretations attached to the site.
The Pfennig-Pfuhl lies in a forest near Niendorf. According to legend, it is linked to a story about a sunken castle. Niendorf is also home to the BrĂĽhtrog-Rennen, a race across the village pond that is part of the summer village festival. It is held annually and attracts visitors as well as teams from the surrounding area. If you plan to visit for the race, check the event date in advance.
Mehlsdorf is surrounded by the Mehlsdorfer Busch, an alder swamp forest that has been preserved in an almost natural state. The lowland landscape there is suitable for cycling and hiking, and the routes are signposted. This offers a different focus from the churches in Ihlow and Rietdorf or the history of Borchelt. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on architectural history, traditional stories, or outdoor activities in the landscape.
Routes and activities
The former JLKB (Jüterbog-Luckenwalde Light Railway) narrow-gauge railway line ran through Ihlow. Passenger services ended in 1963; today, the former line can be used for inline skating. Ihlow can also be reached on inline skates or by bicycle via the Flaeming-Skate. Teltow-Fläming district maintains the Flaeming-Skate and cleans it regularly. Even so, check current route conditions before setting out.
The former railway line and the Flaeming-Skate offer different ways to plan your trip: the railway line highlights the transition from its former passenger services to its current use for inline skating, while the Flaeming-Skate provides a way to reach Ihlow on skates or by bicycle. When choosing accommodation, it may therefore help to decide on your planned activities first, then look for a suitable option in Ihlow.
Ihlow within the wider destination of Teltow-Fläming
Beyond the village and municipality, the wider destination of Teltow-Fläming offers a broader setting for exploring the landscape and cycling. The district has almost 600 kilometers of tourist cycling routes. Teltow-Fläming district also has a 30,414-hectare share of the Nuthe-Nieplitz Nature Park. The landscape of Teltow-Fläming includes gently rolling ridges, broad valleys, protected areas, hills, and lowlands, where visitors can experience the local flora and fauna up close. These details describe the wider area; Ihlow’s specific points of interest are its churches, the former narrow-gauge railway line, and the landscapes in its localities.
Discover more destinations: Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Siethen, Dahme/Mark, Baruth/Mark, Niederer Fläming, Nuthe-Urstromtal, Großbeeren, Kloster Zinna.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Teltow-Fläming.
