The approximately 180-hectare “Ghost Forest” is part of the Stolteraa Nature Reserve. When planning a trip to Amt Bad Doberan-Land, Quellental and the churches in Rethwisch and Retschow offer different highlights: protected landscapes, nature-focused activities and examples of North German Brick Gothic architecture.
Landscapes and nature-focused activities
Along the 7- to 9-meter-high cliffs, the Ghost Forest offers opportunities for long walks, bike rides and horseback rides. These three activities offer different perspectives on the landscape, without implying a specific route. If you want to make outdoor activities a focus, the forest is a concrete option; it covers approximately 180 hectares.
The Quellental valley of the Glashäger Bach includes spring marshes, mineral-soil meadows and fen meadows. Alder and ash trees line the stream, alongside sedges and rushes. Quellental has been designated a protected natural area (FND) since 1984. A nature-focused circular walk through the valley is approximately 8 kilometers long, takes 4 hours and includes a coffee break in Glashagen. If you need to plan around specific details, it is worth checking the latest information about the activity in advance.
HĂĽtter Wohld is also a designated protected area: it became a nature reserve in 1999 and a European protected area (FFH area) in 2004. If you would like to explore the area with an expert guide, you can request a nature-focused tour along the pond chain created by Cistercian monks. Dates are arranged on request. The meeting point is the large car park in HĂĽtten; advance registration is required. This means the tour differs from the Quellental circular walk in terms of planning: it requires an advance request and registration.
Coast, golf and Brick Gothic
Wittenbeck borders the “Kühlung” Landscape Protection Area to the southwest and the “Wittenbecker Tannen” to the east. For sporting activities, there is a golf area with one 18-hole course and two 9-hole courses. There is also an approximately 2.5-kilometer-long natural beach with cliffs approximately 4 to 8 meters high.
The church in Rethwisch was probably built between 1306 and 1312. As a three-aisled stepped hall church, it is an example of North German Brick Gothic architecture. The central shrine of its valuable winged altarpiece contains a Crucifixion scene from 1530. The building’s design and the altarpiece offer different historical highlights: one is part of the church’s architecture, while the other is a specific work of art inside.
The church in Retschow contains a depiction of a mill, considered unique among village churches throughout Germany. Another cultural attraction can be found in Glashagen Ausbau: four local artists work in studios for pottery, glassblowing, porcelain and driftwood. Visitors can view their work and, where possible, purchase it. The church art and the studios thus offer different ways to engage with culture, without requiring a shared itinerary.
Plan your stay around your interests
When looking for a hotel in Amt Bad Doberan-Land, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on: extended outdoor activities, a circular walk with a set duration, a tour by request, golf or cultural history. The four-hour Quellental walk has a different time commitment from arranging a date for the tour in HĂĽtter Wohld. If a specific tour is important to your plans, check the latest details before finalizing your stay.
Discover more destinations: Börgerende-Rethwisch, Nienhagen, Wittenbeck, Heiligendamm, Steffenshagen, Hohenfelde, Admannshagen-Bargeshagen, Retschow, Bartenshagen-Parkentin, Reddelich.
Return to the main travel overview: Rostock.
