Damm originated as a linear village or linear village green settlement directly along the course of the Elde. The Elde Valley, which runs from east to west, provides a direct connection to the landscape here: within the municipality, the villages of Malchow and Damm, as well as the Bleichertannen pine forest, are part of the “Middle Elde Valley between Parchim and Matzlow-Garwitz” landscape area. The river, village and surrounding landscape thus offer several starting points for a stay.
The Elde and Lewitz: Nature around Damm
The Alte Elde is largely close to nature; wet grassland and the alder forests lining the river add to the landscape. Together, these elements provide a wide variety of impressions. Those interested in observing nature will find the Wiesenlewitz meadows south and west of Damm. They are part of the important Lewitz bird resting area. The opportunities for observing nature there are particularly good in autumn and spring. These are therefore the two most interesting seasons to consider when planning your visit.
Damm village church and rectory
The small late-medieval village church dates from the 15th century and is next to the “Pfarrhaus Damm” youth education centre. If you would like to visit the church’s interior, you can contact the staff at the youth education centre. The centre hosts conferences, seminars, holidays and retreats for all age groups, as well as conventions, professional development courses and school trips. Two different themes come together here: the village church as a historic landmark and the rectory as a venue for educational programmes and group activities.
Explore the Garwitz canoe circuit section by section
It is worth looking at the individual sections of the Garwitz canoe circuit. The first section runs from Lewitzcamp along the Elde to Damm. You need to carry your canoe around an obstacle about 150 m before the Damm–Malchow canal bridge; after about 30 m overland, you can continue on the Alte Elde, the river’s original channel. The return route follows a side arm of the Elde, along a section closed to motorboats, with frequent wide bends, a gentle gradient and easy conditions throughout. This distinction is important when planning: the portage point is on the first section, while the information about the gradient and ease of travel applies to the return route.
Parchim as part of the wider destination
The Wockersee is another natural highlight in the wider Parchim destination. The lake on the northern outskirts of Parchim covers 62 hectares and is ideal for walking, swimming and boating. The Wockertal nature reserve adjoins it directly; Eichberg is a starting point for a circuit of Lake Wocker. In contrast to the Elde and Wiesenlewitz in Damm, the focus here is on a named lake and a starting point for a walk around it.
Parchim’s history as a town also offers its own points of interest. Today, the Parchim ramparts can be enjoyed as an urban park; they cover about 4.4 hectares. A very well-preserved section of Parchim’s town wall can be seen on Am Wallhotel street. The Fangelturm tower was built in 1360 as part of a defensive earthwork protecting Parchim from attack. Today, it is the only tower of its kind in Mecklenburg and is one of the oldest structures in the state. St. Marien is the oldest surviving building in Parchim. St. Georgen is considered a church of regional significance because of its historical, architectural and art-historical importance.
To travel to Parchim by train, change at Ludwigslust or Schwerin: first take a Deutsche Bahn train to one of these towns, then continue to Parchim with ODEG. Check current connections and timetables before travelling. From Parchim station, it takes about ten minutes to walk to the town centre; taxis and buses are also available for the onward journey.
Discover more destinations: Groß Godems, Domsühl, Obere Warnow, Lewitzrand, Ziegendorf, Karrenzin, Zölkow, Severin
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Amt Parchimer Umland.
