In the center of Altenhagen as it is today stands a fieldstone church. The present main church of the Altenhagen parish is a half-timbered church. Together with the Bronze Age burial mound, these offer different historical points of interest; for cyclists, a named route is also a concrete planning consideration.

Churches and Local History

The fieldstone church is located in the present-day center of the village and was restored at the end of the 18th century. The half-timbered church was built after the Thirty Years’ War, has stood for more than 300 years, and was intended as an “emergency church.” Today, it is the main church of the Altenhagen parish. The two churches therefore highlight different aspects: for one, its restoration in the late 18th century is an important historical reference point; for the other, its construction date, half-timbered design, and historical purpose as an emergency church are defining features.

A much older point of reference is the prehistoric Bronze Age burial mound on the country road toward the village of Philippshof. It can be visited. Its archaeological period is clearly distinct from the history of the churches. A Büdnerei, a traditional smallholding, is located on Dorfstraße next to the inn. It adds another rural architectural form and a further connection to Altenhagen’s local history alongside the churches and burial mound.

Cycling in Altenhagen

As of June 2024, the Tützpatz–Neuenhagen–Altenhagen route is designated in the cycling network plan as a cycle path alongside the road. This designation describes the plan as it stood at that time; the route’s condition may change. Check its current condition before setting out. For planning, the designated route type is a specific point of reference, while the churches and burial mound represent other historical aspects of the village.

More to explore in the Mecklenburg Lake District

The wider Mecklenburg Lake District destination also offers a distinct nature experience in Müritz National Park. The park is characterized by forests, marshes, lakes, and vast meadows. Its hiking trail explores the park’s landscape types and distinctive features over nine stages: it follows lakeshores, passes through ancient forests and by inland dunes, and leads to the source of the River Havel. The stages and changing landscapes offer specific points of reference when choosing a hiking theme.

Certified nature and landscape guides offer informative tours through Müritz National Park. These include guided walks in the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest of Serrahn and tours from the water. For those exploring by water, there is another perspective: from Neustrelitz town harbor, they can explore Müritz National Park and the Strelitz Small Lakes via the Upper Havel Waterway. The options therefore differ in focus: guided nature experiences, hiking stages, or exploration from the water.

Another nature destination in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Damerower Werder bison reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and within Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park; visitors can observe bison there. The reserve also has a woodland discovery trail with climbing opportunities, an ant house, an exhibition with tactile and viewing panels, and a dendrophone. Wildlife watching and the trail offer different highlights within this nature experience.

Discover more destinations: Werder, Burow, Siedenbollentin, Wildberg, Pripsleben, Bartow, Altentreptow, Groß Teetzleben

View the wider travel guide: Amt Treptower Tollensewinkel.