In Gielow, you’ll encounter several different traces of local history: the local history museum in the village church, the Gielow Mill and Liepen Moated Castle. There is also a circular trail through the parkland of the moated castle and a bitter liqueur tasting with a guided tour, which requires advance registration. The topics range from historical everyday objects and church architecture to literature, building history and a specific accommodation option.

Village Church, Local History Museum and Cottage Garden

The Gielow Local History Museum is located in the village church and displays equipment and tools from the early 20th century. The museum also includes a cottage garden with historical plants and herbs. The collection and garden each have a different focus: everyday objects from an earlier era here, plants and herbs in a historic garden there. Check current visiting arrangements before making a special trip to the local history museum.

The village church itself also has distinctive features: a special altar stands in front of a pointed-arch window, and the organ dates from 1828. A pointed arch comes to a point at the top rather than ending in a curve; in the Gielow church interior, this window forms the backdrop to the altar. Together with the organ’s date, these offer different points of interest for looking at the church: its furnishings, the shape of the window and a clearly specified historical date.

Mill with a History, a Literary Connection and a Cycling Route

The Gielow Mill is the only one of four historic mills in the Ostpeene Nature Reserve that still exists. Its significance also becomes clear through comparison: it is the only surviving one of the four mills. It also plays an important role in Fritz Reuter’s novel “Ut de Franzosentid.” The mill thus has a connection both to the historic milling landscape and to literature.

Another perspective is offered by the “Stavenhagen and Fritz Reuter” cycling tour: it leads to the Gielow Mill and crosses the Ostpeene there. For trip planning, the mill is therefore not only a historic site, but also a specifically named destination on a cycling tour.

Liepen Moated Castle: Building History and Park

Liepen Moated Castle was built in the 14th century as a fortified castle complex together with the Liepen estate. After the Thirty Years’ War, it lost its importance as a defensive fortification and fell into disrepair, apart from its vaulted cellar. A Baroque manor house was built on this cellar vault in 1700.

A circular trail for visitors runs through the landscaped park of the moated castle. This offers a different way to explore Liepen than tracing the chronological sequence of its building history: the trail focuses on the parkland. As local access conditions may vary, check them before your visit. Bitter liqueur tastings with a guided tour are offered in the vaulted cellar by prior arrangement. Confirm the specific arrangements before visiting.

Accommodation and Directions

As a specific accommodation option, Liepen Moated Castle has four holiday apartments. As accommodation availability can change, check current availability before making plans.

For orientation: Gielow is about 6 km south of the town of Malchin and can be reached via the Malchin–Waren country road. This places the town in relation to Malchin, while the country road provides a specific reference for your journey.

Discover more destinations: Faulenrost, Kummerow, Duckow, Malchin, Gorschendorf, Basedow, Neukalen.

For the broader travel overview: Amt Malchin Am Kummerower See.