The church and historic church ensemble are the cultural focal point of Kessin. Its building history, restored wall paintings and community life in the churchyard offer different perspectives; a bus connection to the boathouse of the Olympic Rowing Club adds a practical planning consideration to these themes.
Church, Art and Architectural History
Kessin Church was built in the 12th or 13th century and was first mentioned in a document in 1171. The construction period and first documented mention answer different historical questions: the construction period gives a rough idea of its origins, while 1171 marks the first documentary evidence. Large sections of the medieval wall paintings were restored in 1977. In the wider travel destination of Dummerstorf, St. Godehard’s village church in Kessin also features a carved Madonna and Child from around 1300 and a carved figure of Bishop St. Godehard from the 15th century. The paintings and figures thus offer different points of reference in time.
The historic church ensemble in Kessin includes a thatched-roof Torkaten; the ensemble is the focal point of the parish. The rectory stands northwest of the church. Built in 1696, it is a protected cultural monument. The rectory adds a specific 17th-century building to the local history, while the Torkaten has its own distinctive feature as part of the ensemble: its thatched roof.
Courtyard Festival and Dated Events
The parish’s annual summer courtyard festival is held in the historic churchyard. The 2024 edition included children’s games and the Torkaten café; check the current date before visiting. Another event with a specific date was St. Martin’s Day on November 8, 2024: a St. Martin’s play by the daycare children and a lantern procession through the village took place in Kessin that day. While the courtyard festival is held in the churchyard, the 2024 lantern procession went through the village. The courtyard festival is a summer event; the St. Martin’s play took place in November.
Bus Connection to the Boathouse
The Kessin boathouse of the Olympic Rowing Club of 1956 e. V. can be reached by bus route 113 to the Kessin, ORC stop. If you are travelling to this destination by public transport, you can use the route as a starting point for planning your journey. Check the current service before travelling.
In the Wider Travel Destination of Dummerstorf
Dummerstorf Manor House was built between 1714 and 1717 in the Baroque style as the ancestral seat of the Mecklenburg noble von Preen family and is a listed building. A club makes its two halls available to the public for events such as concerts, readings and talks. For current event details, contact the organiser. In the wider travel destination of Dummerstorf, Kavelstorf Motorway Church is also open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Discover more destinations: Evershagen, Kavelstorf, Amt Laage, Sanitz, Amt BĂĽtzow-Land, Amt Mecklenburgische Schweiz, Reppelin, GĂĽstrow
Back to the wider travel overview: Rostock.
