East of Melz lies Melzer See, a river lake on the upper reaches of the Elde. This body of water, the old oak trees and the village’s history reveal what defines the place: a waterside landscape and traces from different eras. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Melz, you can decide whether the lake and its surroundings or the village’s history will play a greater role in your stay.
Melzer See and the Old Oak Trees
Melzer See lies near Melz, close to Röbel, and stretches east of the village. It is a river lake on the upper reaches of the Elde, covering about 29 hectares; the Elde serves as both its inlet and outlet. Numerous oaks with trunk circumferences of more than five metres grow around the lake. A group of oaks on the road from Friedrichshof to Karbow is protected as a natural monument. Its largest oak measures 5.90 metres in circumference. The first description refers to the tree population around the lake; the second gives the measurement of the largest oak within the protected group. These different features help distinguish the lakeside landscape from one particularly large tree.
Church, Estate and Bronze Age
Melz Village Church was rebuilt in 1816 by the estate owner and patron at the time, Friedrich August von Ferber. Extensive restoration work lasted eleven years; by 2016, most of the structural damage that had occurred in the preceding years had been repaired. The church’s history therefore includes both its 19th-century reconstruction and later preservation work.
After the manor house burned down in 1945, a stable, remnants of the estate wall and fragments of a park remained from the former Melz estate. These remnants offer a different perspective on the village’s history from the village church: they recall the former estate, of which only individual elements have survived.
The Melz hoard is also one of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s greatest archaeological treasures. In autumn 1970, a unique bronze hoard consisting of 14 pieces was unearthed at Zehnten-Wiese in Melz-Friedrichshof. The find is on display in Schwerin. A local tradition is associated with the find site: nine chieftains are said to have buried their insignia of rank in one part of Zehnten-Wiese. This remains clearly identified as a tradition and adds its own interpretation to the history of the archaeological find.
Routes and Regional Nature Highlights
The Ice Age Route from Fürstenberg/Havel to Röbel/Müritz passes through Buchholz, Kieve, Melz, Karbow and Bollewick. This makes Melz part of a regional route. If you include the route in your travel plans, check the latest trail conditions in advance. In the past, the Bund für Natur und Heimat organised an annual walk around Melzer See; this activity should be regarded as a historical tradition.
In the wider destination of the Mecklenburg Lake District, Müritz National Park offers further nature experiences. The national park is part of the Mecklenburg Lake District; its hiking trail explores the landscape over nine stages, passing lakes, through ancient forests, past inland dunes and to 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 regional example is the Damerower Werder Bison Reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin, in the Mecklenburg Lake District and in the Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide Nature Park. Visitors can observe the animals there. The reserve also has a forest adventure trail with climbing features, an ant house, an exhibition with tactile and visual panels, and a dendrophone. These places and activities are part of the wider destination of the Mecklenburg Lake District and form a distinct regional context alongside Melz’s landscape and history.
Discover more destinations: Zepkow, Rechlin, Priborn, Fincken, Massow, Altenhof, Leizen, Ludorf
For the wider travel overview: Amt Röbel-Müritz.
