The Mecklenburg Lake District offers a variety of ways to experience nature and the landscape. Forests, wetlands, lakes and vast meadows shape the scenery in Müritz National Park. The Damerower Werder bison reserve is located on a peninsula on Lake Kölpin; it is in the Mecklenburg Lake District and Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. When planning your trip, it helps to decide on your main focus first: hiking, water-based activities, wildlife watching or culture.
Hiking and wildlife watching
The MĂĽritz National Park hiking trail explores the landscape types and special features of MĂĽritz National Park over nine stages. The route passes lakes, goes through ancient forests, past inland dunes and to the source of the Havel. The nine stages give the hiking trail a clear structure; however, they do not indicate how many days you should set aside for it.
If you would like to get to know the landscape as part of a guided tour, certified nature and landscape guides offer informative tours through MĂĽritz National Park. These include tours in the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest of Serrahn and tours from the water. This means you can choose guided nature experiences as well as hiking independently.
You can watch the animals at the Damerower Werder bison reserve. The forest adventure trail complements wildlife watching with climbing opportunities, an ant house and an exhibition with tactile and visual panels; there is also a dendrophone. Nearby, in Stuer, you’ll find BÄRENWALD Müritz. This 16-hectare sanctuary is a natural habitat for rescued brown bears. It is open daily year-round; check current opening hours before your visit.
Waterways and walks
For water-based excursions, Neustrelitz Town Harbour is one possible starting point: from there, you can explore MĂĽritz National Park and the Strelitz Small Lakes region via the Upper Havel Waterway. This differs from the MĂĽritz National Park hiking trail not only in how you get around, but also in the views from the water. A hand-operated cable ferry across the Schmaler Luzin offers another independent way to enjoy the water; it is located in the Feldberg Lake District.
If you prefer exploring on foot, Mirow Palace Park offers walks along the lakeshore, through Baroque avenues and to Lovers’ Island. The options range from a multi-stage hiking route and exploring by water to walks in the park. These activities offer different ways to experience the landscape; they do not have to be seen as one combined excursion.
Museums and historic sites
AGRONEUM Alt Schwerin is an open-air museum in Alt Schwerin with a history spanning more than 60 years. The Rechlin Aviation Technology Museum is located in Rechlin Nord. Both places offer a cultural alternative to hiking and exploring by water, without requiring a particular itinerary.
When choosing accommodation, your personal interests can help you decide where to stay: is your trip mainly about hiking, exploring by water, wildlife watching or cultural destinations? The activities mentioned differ considerably in nature. If you have several interests, you can treat them as separate priorities in your plans rather than trying to combine the individual places into one route.
Discover more destinations
Dargun, Neustrelitz, Neubrandenburg, Demmin, Waren / Müritz, Feldberg Lake District, Demmin-Land Office, Friedland Office, Malchin Office at Lake Kummerow, Malchow Office, Mecklenburg Small Lakes Office, Neustrelitz-Land Office, Neverin Office, Penzliner Land Office, Röbel-Müritz Office, Lake District Waren Office, Stargarder Land Office, Stavenhagen Office, Treptower Tollensewinkel Office, Woldegk Office, Vielist, Groß Dratow
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