The memory of a post-war camp and several routes give Nesow two distinct reasons to visit. An information board in the village marks its historical connection, while cycling and hiking trails also make Nesow a waypoint on various tours. When planning your trip, it is worth comparing the circular route, the hiking trails between named places, and the local landmark connected with the camp’s history. This will help you decide whether the historical focus or a particular route should shape your trip.

Post-war history in Nesow

After the Second World War, up to 4,000 resettlers lived for a time in the quarantine camp in Nesow, most of them Catholic refugees from North Bohemia and Silesia. The camp operated from 1946 until the 1970s; an information board in the village commemorates the former camp. The refugees’ origins in North Bohemia and Silesia give the local story a wider regional connection, while the board anchors the memory in Nesow. The village’s history thus centers both on the camp’s long period of operation and on the people who lived there temporarily after the war.

Cycling and hiking trails

The approximately 26 km circular route through the terminal moraine landscape passes through Dorf Nesow and Nesow. Two hiking trails also pass through the village. The Nonnenweg runs from Rehna to Zarrentin, past Nesow Manor and then through the village. The Mönch-Ernestus hiking trail runs from Ratzeburg to Rehna through Nesow. Both hiking trails lead to Rehna, but they have different destinations at the other end: Zarrentin for the Nonnenweg and Ratzeburg for the Mönch-Ernestus trail. On the Nonnenweg, Nesow Manor is an additional specific landmark, encountered before the route passes through the village. The type of route is another factor in your choice: the circular route loops through the terminal moraine landscape, while the hiking trails run between named places. You can therefore choose based on whether you prefer a landscape loop, the route itself, or the places at either end.

Navigating the cycle path and finding the former camp

There is a cycle path between Rehna and Nesow. According to an announcement dated 8 July 2025, the Schwerin Road Construction Authority planned to renovate it. A dirt track leading to the former Nesow camp branches off about 100 metres after crossing the B 104. For navigation, it is worth distinguishing this dirt track from the connection between Rehna and Nesow: the cycle path connects the two places, while the turn-off leads to the former camp. This gives you both a named cycling connection and a specific local landmark to use when planning. As renovation of the cycle path between Rehna and Nesow was planned, check the current status of the route before deciding on your cycling trip.

Discover more destinations: Königsfeld, Carlow, Schlagsdorf, Utecht, Vitense, Dechow, Wedendorfersee, Groß Molzahn.

For the main travel overview: Amt Rehna.