Kittendorf can be understood through two specific themes: the history of the castle in the village and a forest area in the surrounding area. When looking for accommodation, you can consider whether to focus your stay on local attractions or also view the Mecklenburg Lake District as a broader regional context.
Kittendorf Castle and its history
Kittendorf Castle was built between 1848 and 1853 to plans by Berlin architect Friedrich Hitzig. Hitzig was a student of Schinkel; the building was constructed in the English Tudor Gothic style. The construction period, architect, and style give the castle a specific connection to architectural history. If you are interested in historic architecture, you can place Kittendorf in context through this combination of construction date and design.
The grounds of Kittendorf Castle also include a historic former watermill dating from around 1750 and a historic ice cellar. The mill adds another architectural feature with its own approximate date to the castle setting. The history of the grounds thus encompasses these two distinct historic structures as well as the castle.
A nature attraction can be found nearby: the 53.00 ha “Tree Rows and Forest near Kittendorf” FFH area comprises a small remnant of deciduous woodland and two rows of trees near the village. The area lies on the edge of the Kittendorfer Peene valley and provides habitats for the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita). For those interested in natural history, this gives the landscape a specific connection to a species alongside its castle history.
As a regional point of reference, Schloss-Hotel Kittendorf is located in Kittendorf between the Mecklenburg Switzerland and the Mecklenburg Lake District. When planning your trip, you can distinguish the local attractions from other, separate destinations in the Mecklenburg Lake District.
Mecklenburg Lake District: Nature Trails, Water and Culture
The Mecklenburg Lake District opens up a broader range of themes. For example, Müritz National Park is part of the region; its landscape is characterized by forests, moors, lakes, and expansive meadows. The Müritz National Park Hiking Trail covers the park’s landscape types and special features in nine stages. It runs alongside lakes, through primeval forests, past inland dunes, and to the source of the Havel.
Certified nature and landscape guides also offer educational tours through Müritz National Park. These include tours in the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest of Serrahn and tours from the water. A nine-stage hiking route and guided nature tours are therefore available as distinct options.
Another nature destination in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Damerower Werder Bison Reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and in the Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. Visitors can observe bison there. The forest adventure trail includes climbing opportunities, an ant house, an exhibition with tactile and visual panels, and a dendrophone. Animal watching and the trail therefore offer different focuses within the reserve.
For water-based exploration, another option starts at Neustrelitz City Harbour: the Upper Havel Waterway provides access to Müritz National Park and the Strelitz Small Lakes District. This is a different way to experience the landscape from the stages of the Müritz National Park Hiking Trail. The Rechlin Aviation Museum is also located in Rechlin Nord, offering another cultural attraction within the Mecklenburg Lake District. When planning your regional itinerary, you can choose between a hiking route, guided tours, animal watching, exploring by water, and a museum.
Discover more destinations: Ritzerow, Gülzow, Stavenhagen, Ivenack, Mölln, Jürgenstorf, Knorrendorf, Rosenow.
For the broader travel overview: Amt Stavenhagen.
