A stay in Parchim can be built around two distinct focal points: its buildings and city history, or Wockersee and the activities available on land and water. Historic landmarks range from the oldest surviving building to a defensive tower dating from 1360; at the lake, options include hiking, swimming and boating. This makes it easy to tailor your choices to your own interests.
City History Between Church, Tower and Town Wall
St. Mary’s Church is the oldest building still standing in Parchim. St. George’s Church is also worth a closer look for its architectural history: given its historical, architectural and art-historical significance, it is considered a church of regional importance. On Am Wallhotel street, you can see a very well-preserved section of Parchim’s town wall.
Another reminder of the town’s fortifications is the Fangelturm tower. It was built in 1360 as part of a landwehr, a defensive line protecting Parchim from outside attack. Today, it is the only tower of its kind in Mecklenburg and is among the oldest buildings in the state. Parchim’s ramparts offer another way to experience the town’s history: covering about 4.4 hectares, they can now be enjoyed as a public park.
City History at the Kulturmühle
Visitors who want to explore Parchim’s development from its beginnings to the present day through an exhibition can find this overview at Museum Parchim. The permanent exhibition at the Kulturmühle presents the city’s history across 900 m². This figure may change if the permanent exhibition is redesigned. Alongside the surviving buildings, the museum offers another way to explore the city’s history: it focuses on how the city developed over time, while the churches, town wall and Fangelturm are tangible historic sites.
Wockersee and Wockertal: Activities on Land and Water
Wockersee lies on the northern edge of Parchim and covers 62 hectares. It is suitable for hiking, swimming and boating. Eichberg is a starting point for walking around the lake. The Wockertal nature conservation area lies directly next to Wockersee. Visitors can therefore enjoy different kinds of leisure activities at the lake, from getting active on land to spending time on the water.
A nature trail in the Wockertal offers another way to explore the surrounding area. The Eisvogellehrpfad trail at Unterer Voigtsdorfer Teich is about 1,100 metres long and has nine stops.
There is a canoe rental station on Fischerdamm. It is considered very easy to reach and provides a direct link from the city to the countryside. If you’d like to go canoeing, check availability with the provider before your trip.
Guided Tours and Getting There
During the summer months, Heimatbund Parchim e.V. offers public general city tours on request; these have been available since 1997. Public guided tours also include walks focusing on medieval Parchim and the history of Parchim’s dragoons. Each tour has a different focus: the general tour offers a broader view of the city, while the other two explore specific chapters of its history.
You can travel by train to Parchim via Ludwigslust or Schwerin: first take Deutsche Bahn to one of these places, then continue with ODEG. Check current connections and timetables before setting off. Parchim train station is about a ten-minute walk from the city centre; alternatively, you can continue by taxi or bus. This information can help you plan your arrival, while choosing between city history, the exhibition and activities at Wockersee can set the focus for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Ludwigslust, Boizenburg/Elbe, Amt Parchimer Umland, Amt Crivitz, Amt Grabow, Amt Eldenburg Lübz, Amt Goldberg-Mildenitz, Amt Ludwigslust-Land
Go to the main travel overview: Ludwigslust-Parchim.
