Bernstorf Castle dates from 1881 and is designed in the Neo-Renaissance style; an atonement stone dating from 1359 adds a second historical highlight in the castle park. Together, they reveal different aspects of the history of the buildings and the village. Further architectural highlights include the houses in Jeese and Strohkirchen, as well as the described cycling routes.
Castle history and the atonement stone
The atonement stone stands in the castle park, at the southwestern edge of the forest in Bernstorf. It depicts Christ on the cross and bears the coat of arms of the Counts of Bernstorf, along with inscription bands. Its dimensions are also recorded: 2.20 metres high and 63 centimetres wide. Its history includes a change of location: in 1829, the stone was moved from Börzow to Bernstorf. It is also part of a 163-kilometre archaeological day trip starting in Wismar. This tour places the stone in a broader historical context; the distance given refers to the day trip.
Until 1990, Bernstorf Castle was used in a variety of ways and was the centre of village life. It is said to have been the ancestral seat of the von Bernstorff family until 1945. The dates relate to different aspects: the possible role as an ancestral seat on the one hand, and its later use and importance to the village on the other. Bernstorf Castle is also considered a wedding venue. The address is Am Schloss 5, Bernstorf.
Village scenes in Jeese and Strohkirchen
In Jeese, substantial houses are arranged in a circle around the village pond; some still have thatched roofs. In Strohkirchen, several settlement houses dating from around 1925 are considered listed buildings. Their design was inspired by southern German examples. The architectural features are therefore quite distinct: in Jeese, the arrangement around the village pond shapes the village scene, while in Strohkirchen it is the distinctive style of the settlement houses.
Cycling tours and getting here
The well-maintained local connecting roads invite you to explore by bike. One particularly recommended ride runs from Wölschendorf to Vitense along a sunken lane. Another cycling tour in the surrounding area passes through historic agricultural landscapes and the Köchelstorfer Mühle landscape conservation area, continuing to Lake Wedendorf. The Lake Wedendorf cycling tour also offers views from Klingenberg near Brützkow. The routes described highlight different landscapes: a sunken lane on the one hand, and agricultural landscapes, a protected area and a lake on the other. Check local conditions before setting out.
NAHBUS route 343 connects Grevesmühlen and Bernstorf. Stops served include Hanshagen, Wölschendorf, Wilkenhagen, Gostorf and Börzow. The timetable version given is valid from 14 December 2025; check current departure times before travelling.
The wider landscape of Northwest Mecklenburg
Within the wider travel destination of Northwest Mecklenburg, the north includes the landscape area “Northwest Mecklenburg Hill Country with Wismar Bay”, while the south belongs to the “West Mecklenburg Lake District with Lake Schwerin”. The district’s landscape is shaped by terminal moraines, gently rolling ground moraine plateaus, stretches of steep and flat coastline, meltwater channels and outwash plains. The Radegast Valley Landscape Conservation Area is a distinct landscape area covering about 600 hectares between the southern edge of Rehna and Lake Nedder near Gadebusch. It encompasses the Radegast’s largely meandering, natural course and adjacent grassland, reed beds, trees and wet woodland.
Discover more destinations: Upahl, Börzow, Gägelow, Mallentin, Warnow, Rüting, Plüschow, Testorf-Steinfort.
View the wider travel overview: GrevesmĂĽhlen-Land District.
