Sanitz combines historic buildings with two different routes through the surrounding area: a 36-kilometre cycling loop and the Kleine Waldrunde (Small Forest Loop). The differences are clear for planning: the cycling route specifies its length, starting point and stops; the hiking trail focuses on its direction, woodland and terrain.

Architectural history in Sanitz

Sanitz Village Church was built in the 13th century. Its imposing fieldstone structure with a half-timbered tower combines two different building styles. Its furnishings include an altar with paintings by the artist Rudolph Suhrlandt dating from around 1800. The church therefore brings together a medieval building and a much later addition to its furnishings.

The Old Forge also combines architectural history with a specific date: it was first mentioned in documents in 1798 and is a late Baroque oak half-timbered building. The grounds of the Old Forge are a protected historic site. It cannot be visited directly because the building is on private property.

The Sanitz Local History Room is part of the Sanitz Community Centre. In Groß Lüsewitz, a locality in the municipality of Sanitz, stands the manor house of Groß Lüsewitz Castle. It was built between 1896 and 1898 in the Neo-Renaissance style. A landscaped park adjoins the manor house; after 1970, it was expanded to include an equestrian competition arena.

The manor house has been privately owned since 2013 and opens for certain events, such as Heritage Day in September. Visits depend on the current events schedule; check it before planning a visit. This distinguishes the architectural focus in Groß Lüsewitz from the enduringly described features of the village church and forge.

Cycling loop or Kleine Waldrunde

The 36-kilometre cycling loop starts at Sanitz station and passes through Wendfeld, Reppelin, Wendorf, Neu-Wendorf, Stormsdorf, Zarnewanz, Tessin and Horst before returning to Sanitz. The route description thus provides a specific distance and a sequence of named places. This helps you gauge the length of the loop and keep the stops in mind when planning your day.

The Kleine Waldrunde Sanitz leads north from the old village through woodland and along sandy clearings. Unlike the cycling loop, no distance is given for this route; instead, the landscape and route provide the points of reference. When choosing between the two, you can therefore consider either the specified cycling distance or the particular woodland setting and trail conditions, without assuming a walking time.

Getting here and regional products

To plan your journey, you can search for train connections to and from Sanitz ZOB on the municipality’s mobility page. It also provides a general overview of bus departure times from Sanitz ZOB. Separately, Sanitz station is listed as the starting point for the cycling loop. Check the connections and departure times relevant to your plans.

The local offerings include Hofladen Sanitz, a farm shop where you can find a wide range of fresh regional products. Specific products may vary in availability. If local produce is of interest to you, the farm shop is an additional stop alongside the historic buildings and routes.

Further afield in the wider Rostock travel destination

The wider Rostock travel destination also offers distinctive nature experiences. Sternberger Seenland Nature Park is particularly suited to hiking and cycling. Its landscape includes deeply incised breakthrough valleys along the Warnow, numerous lakes, hills and extensive forests. This is a broader landscape than the specifically described Kleine Waldrunde in Sanitz, which focuses on woodland, a northerly route and sandy clearings.

Another way to explore regional history is to visit the Wolhynian Resettlers Museum in Linstow. Tours for groups and individuals use ethnographic objects, photographs and documents to tell the story of the Volhynian Germans from the mid-19th century until their resettlement in Mecklenburg after the Second World War. Another distinct attraction in the wider Rostock travel destination is the historic narrow-gauge Molli Railway, which runs between Kühlungsborn and Bad Doberan; it is the oldest narrow-gauge railway on the Baltic coast.

Discover more destinations: Mandelshagen, Kühlungsborn, Neubukow, Amt Rostocker Heide, Amt Tessin, Amt Krakow Am See, Amt Laage, Niekrenz.

View the wider travel guide: Rostock.