Velgast combines the history of a manor house with a cycling route that includes the town as part of a longer circuit. Other towns in the municipality offer a notable brick church, a historic rectory garden and woodland attractions. The sights are spread across Velgast and the municipal towns of Starkow, Schuenhagen, Bussin and Manschenhagen—useful to know when planning excursions by location.
Railway, Manor House and the Bodden Coast Tour
Velgast has been accessible by rail for over 100 years. For your specific journey, check the timetable for your travel dates. The present-day manor house in the town was built in 1833/34 and remodelled in the years that followed. Its construction history is a historic point of reference for Velgast.
A cycling route also passes through Velgast: Route 5 A of the Bodden Coast Tour runs from Barth via Kenz, Löbnitz, Starkow, Velgast, Groß Kordshagen, Günz, Nisdorf, Groß Mohrdorf, Hohendorf, Barhöft and Klausdorf. The return to Barth is via Hohendorf, Nisdorf and Glöwitz. On Route 5 A, Velgast comes after Starkow and before Groß Kordshagen. The place names help you orient yourself on the circuit; a single section should not be confused with the entire tour.
Church, Rectory Garden and Events in Starkow
Starkow is home to St. Jürgen’s Church, an ornate, three-aisled brick basilica dating from the 13th century. Following an extension around 1300, it is considered one of the earliest brick churches in Western Pomerania; the German Foundation for Monument Protection classifies it as a “building of national significance.” The church is part of a historic ensemble that includes the rectory, school and sexton’s house, rectory barn, preacher’s widow’s house and rectory garden with an orchard.
The church houses a Mehmel organ built in 1860, with 17 stops. It was rededicated in 2010 after extensive restoration and comes from the workshop of Stralsund organ builder Friedrich Albert Mehmel. The rectory garden is of significance for garden history and local heritage and is a pleasant place for a stroll. Guided tours are offered during events or on request.
The blossom festival in early May marks the start of the season; the annual Appeldag takes place in October. The changing cultural programme also includes art exhibitions, readings and concerts. Check the specific event dates before your trip. Families with children will find a playground on Kirchsteig, with a climbing frame, slides, swings and a large sandpit. As the facilities may change, it is advisable to check for current information before visiting.
Woodland History and Nature in Schuenhagen
The Schuenhagen Forestry Office has a history stretching back over 200 years, to the time of Swedish Pomerania. The listed forestry building at Kronenwald 1 is a brick building with a decorative gable and is considered an example of Prussian administrative architecture. It still serves as the forestry office and is located directly on the Barthe River.
The nature discovery trail “The Tree Treasure of Schuenhagen,” opened in 2022, runs through a small, species-rich woodland. Information boards teach visitors about native tree species; at the end of the walk, a quiz invites you to discover the “tree treasure” in an ancient oak. The white-tailed eagle trail at the forestry office also offers interesting information about the white-tailed eagle’s way of life and migration patterns. It is free and open year-round; check current access information before visiting.
The Klimawald afforestation site is also near Schuenhagen. It can be reached via the L 212. Parking is available at the forestry office; from there, signposts and a footpath of about 200 metres lead to the site. These directions can help with planning if you would like to explore the municipality’s woodland attractions separately.
Bussin, Manschenhagen and the Wider Travel Area
The Luisenhöhe manor house in Bussin was built around 1770/80. It is named after Queen Luise, the mother of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The area around Bussin offers opportunities for walks, bird and wildlife watching, hiking and cycling in nearby mixed forests.
The Bodden Coast Tour passes through Manschenhagen, offering views of the varied coastal landscape. In autumn and spring, you can watch the annual crane migration there: the birds head towards Southern Europe or Scandinavia. This means the two viewing periods offer different seasonal experiences.
In the wider travel region of Vorpommern-Rügen, the North Western Pomeranian Woodland is crossed by the Baltic Sea Coast Cycle Route and the Hamburg–Rügen long-distance cycle route. Other cycling routes include the “Eastern Brick Route,” the “Fischland-Darß Circular Route,” the “Recknitz Valley Circular Route” and the “Trebel Valley Circular Route”; they pass through or along the edge of the “White-tailed Eagle Country.” The Via Baltica and the 400-kilometre Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail E 9 are also named as walking routes through the region. These routes belong to the wider travel area and should be distinguished from the destinations in Velgast and its municipality.
Discover more destinations: Millienhagen-Oebelitz, Franzburg, Weitenhagen, Papenhagen, Glewitz, Splietsdorf, Wendisch Baggendorf, Gremersdorf-Buchholz.
Go to the wider travel overview: Amt Franzburg-Richtenberg.
