A small cemetery chapel stands in Sarow beside the foundations of an old church that was demolished during the Thirty Years’ War. The site thus brings two clearly distinct periods of local history into view: the older village church at its former location and the chapel built later. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the village of Sarow from the municipality’s other villages; the churches in Ganschendorf and Törpin, as well as the windmill, are located in those villages.
The Cemetery Chapel in Sarow
Construction of the chapel began on June 17, 1958. Bishop Dr. Krummacher consecrated it on March 31, 1959. This sequence precisely dates the small cemetery chapel: less than a year separates the start of construction from its consecration. Together with the foundations of the demolished church, it offers a concrete comparison between a historic church site and a chapel dating from the mid-20th century.
Churches and Building History in the Municipality’s Villages
Ganschendorf is home to a church built in the late 19th century and consecrated in 1896. In 2004, it received new roof tiles, and its interior was renovated based on the original design. Its consecration and the later renovation of its roof and interior therefore represent different stages in its building history. The rampart near Ganschendorf is also a sight worth visiting.
By comparison, the church in Törpin dates back to 1660. Its gallery houses an old iron cross alongside a Grüneberg organ built in Stettin in 1863. The church and organ thus date from different periods. The wrought-iron cross on the roof ridge was replaced with a new one; this should not be confused with the old iron cross on the gallery. New roof tiles were also installed on the church, and its lightning protection was renewed.
The Törpin windmill is also part of the village’s building history: it was built in 1876 and is used as a holiday home under the name “Uncle Tom’s Mill.” The summer festival in Törpin by the lake is described as a tradition. Thus, in addition to churches, the municipality’s villages offer a range of other historical and cultural connections.
The Mecklenburg Lake District in a Broader Context
At the level of the wider travel destination, the Mecklenburg Lake District, Müritz National Park offers a distinct perspective on the landscape. It is characterized by forests, bogs, lakes, and expansive meadows. The Müritz National Park Hiking Trail showcases the park’s landscape types and distinctive features over nine stages; it passes lakes, winds through ancient forests, goes by inland dunes, and reaches the source of the Havel. Certified nature and landscape guides offer informative tours there, including guided visits to the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest in Serrahn and tours from the water.
Another destination in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Damerow Werder Bison Reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and in Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. Visitors can watch bison there. The reserve also has a forest adventure trail with climbing activities, an ant house, an exhibition with tactile and visual panels, and a dendrophone.
Discover more destinations: Siedenbrünzow, Sommersdorf, Lindenberg, Nossendorf, Meesiger, Kletzin, Warrenzin, Beggerow.
Go to the overview of the wider travel area: Amt Demmin-Land.
