Nostorf offers two distinct topics for those interested in cultural history: the history of St. Lawrence’s Church and the remains of a Slavic-era border fortification near Nostorf. The Elbe-Schaalsee Circular Route leads north from the historic centre of Boizenburg/Elbe to Nostorf and then past the Border Museum along the Green Belt. This gives you a choice of different focal points for planning your trip: local history or a route that extends beyond the town.
St. Lawrence’s Church: from chapel to restoration
On 2 October 1483, a chapel dedicated to St. Lawrence was consecrated at the site of today’s St. Lawrence’s Church. It was affiliated as a filia, or daughter church, to St. George’s Church in Zweedorf. The historical record refers to the chapel at the site of today’s church.
Another date is part of the building’s history: by 2006, the church interior and the 1890 Friese organ had undergone extensive restoration. The church’s history thus spans a consecration dated to the 15th century and extensive restoration completed in 2006.
Early border history near Nostorf
The remains of a Slavic-era border fortification lie immediately behind the Stecknitz/Delvenau dike near Nostorf. According to an initial examination of the finds, it apparently existed by the end of the 9th century at the latest and continued to be used in the 10th century. The dating is explicitly a tentative assessment; at the same time, its continued use in the 10th century is part of the site’s recorded history.
Trial trenches at the fortification yielded evidence in 2018 pointing to an intense fire event and metallurgical activities. Together, these clues give the border fortification another historical dimension beyond its dating: they also concern fire and metalworking.
Circular route and designated areas in the municipality
The Elbe-Schaalsee Circular Route leads north from the historic centre of Boizenburg/Elbe to Nostorf and then past the Border Museum along the Green Belt. The route connects Boizenburg, Nostorf and the Border Museum in that order. Check the current route before setting off so that your plans match the trail.
In the municipality of Nostorf, “Horst Mühlengraben (Z1)” is designated as an access point to a body of water. “Horst Mühlengraben” is also designated as a recreational area (E1) in the municipality of Nostorf. If these areas are important to your plans, check local conditions in advance.
More cultural attractions in the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim destination
In the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim destination, Ludwigslust Palace offers a different cultural-history focus. The palace was the former residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg and, together with its park and town, forms an ensemble known as the “Little Versailles of the North.” The almost completely preserved late-Baroque townscape includes a former court church and an English-style landscape park. The palace presents art and courtly domestic culture from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Thus, Ludwigslust focuses on residence and court culture, while Nostorf’s themes centre on church and border history.
Dömitz is also part of the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim destination. Dömitz Citadel is a Renaissance fortress built on the Italian model, in the shape of a pentagon with bastions, casemates and a drawbridge. The museum in the fortress covers the history of the fortress and town, the history of the Elbe, harbour and bridges, as well as Fritz Reuter; it also hosts special and art exhibitions. The region’s cultural themes therefore differ in focus: Dömitz centres on its fortress and town history, Ludwigslust on its residence and courtly domestic culture, and Nostorf on its church and early border history.
Discover more destinations: Neu GĂĽlze, Schwanheide, Teldau, Bengerstorf, Besitz, Brahlstorf, Dersenow, Greven.
Return to the wider travel overview: Amt Boizenburg-Land.
