Peenehagen reveals itself through the stories of its villages and its very diverse natural settings. The village churches in Lansen, Groß Gievitz and Alt Schönau each preserve their own traces of architectural and local history. There is also a park, events and the Barschmoor nature reserve—with an important detail to bear in mind when planning: there are no public paths there.
Village history and a bell in Lansen
At its core, Lansen village church dates back to around 1400. Its furnishings include an 18th-century baptismal angel. There is also a freestanding bell tower in the churchyard. The bell in it was donated in 1865 by the then patron, C. G. (Kuno) von Hahn, and cast by Johann Carl Ludwig Illies in Waren. The combination of church, bell tower and baptismal angel makes Lansen a place with several clearly datable traces of its history.
The houses also reveal a piece of village history: nearly all the houses in Lansen have wooden signs bearing the names of their farms. These date back to the settlement of estates in Mecklenburg in the 1930s. This extends the historical perspective beyond the church to the more recent development of the village.
Church, chapel and park in Groß Gievitz
Groß Gievitz village church dates back to the German settlement of the Schloen estate in the 13th century. From 1964 onward, its wall paintings were uncovered once again. The original Baroque painting of the furnishings and the altar’s original decorative imagery were also restored. The cemetery chapel is a different historic building: the Neo-Gothic burial chapel of the Counts of Voß was built between 1827 and 1831, based on a drawing by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. It has been owned by the parish since 1951 and serves as a cemetery chapel.
The restored fire station with its barrel roof is also one of Groß Gievitz’s sights. Other listed buildings are local attractions as well. For a different kind of visit, the renaturalised park, with its old and rare trees, invites you to take a walk. Check the park’s condition and access arrangements before planning a visit.
Groß Gievitz also combines its park with events: the traditional park festival is held here, and equestrian games take place annually. For both, it is advisable to check the dates and current programme in advance.
Fieldstone church and church treasury in Alt Schönau
Alt Schönau fieldstone church dates from the 14th century. Its rectangular structure is built of fieldstone and features brick gables articulated with blind arcades. Alongside its architectural form, elements of its furnishings offer insights into other periods: the pulpit dates from around 1700, and the church treasury preserves liturgical pewter objects from the 18th and 19th centuries. The three village churches thus differ in their details: Lansen brings together a church, bell tower and baptismal angel; Groß Gievitz, its settlement history and restorations; and Alt Schönau, its architectural form and church treasury.
Barschmoor: valuable habitats, no public paths
The Barschmoor nature reserve was designated on 21 September 1972. It contains open water areas, with wetland habitats to the east, including peat mosses, reed canary grass and sedge meadows. The osprey uses the area to search for food. Breeding birds include various species of duck, common crane, green sandpiper, wood sandpiper, Eurasian woodcock, common snipe and little grebe; otters are also found there.
Access arrangements are essential when planning a visit: there are no public paths in the Barschmoor nature reserve. Check access conditions again before travelling. By contrast, the park in Groß Gievitz is expressly associated with walking; there too, you should check its condition and access in advance. The two places therefore offer different ways to include nature in your travel plans.
The Mecklenburg Lake District as the wider destination
The wider destination of the Mecklenburg Lake District includes Müritz National Park, characterised by forests, moors, lakes and broad meadows. The Müritz National Park hiking trail explores the landscape in nine stages: it runs along lakes, through ancient forests, past inland dunes and to the source of the Havel. This route description applies to the national park and should be distinguished from local paths and walking opportunities in Peenehagen.
Another distinct natural destination in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Damerower Werder bison reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and in Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. Visitors can observe bison there. The reserve also has a forest adventure trail with climbing opportunities, an anthill house, an exhibition with tactile and visual panels, and a dendrophone.
When choosing a holiday apartment in Peenehagen, it helps to start by identifying your priorities: village churches and historic details, a walk in the park, or nature attractions with clear access restrictions. The places described differ both in their historical character and in what visitors can expect to do there.
Discover more destinations: Hohen Wangelin, Neu Gaarz, Varchentin, Grabowhöfe, Klocksin, Groß Plasten, Klink, Jabel.
See the wider travel overview: Amt Seenlandschaft Waren.
