Altkalen can be explored through very different traces: a working windmill, fortification remains, Neolithic megalithic tombs and two named lakes. This gives you specific points of interest for your plans, spanning a technical monument, older history and activities on the water.
Windmill and Mill Courtyard
The Dutch-style windmill in Altkalen is a working technical monument. Flour is regularly ground using wind power alone in the mill courtyard. The mill complex therefore encompasses not only the building but also its use as a mill. Tours of the windmill are available by prior arrangement by phone; check in advance whether they are currently being offered.
Coffee and homemade cake are served in the rustic celebration barn in the mill courtyard. If you plan a visit for this, check before you arrive whether the offering is available.
Castle Remains and Megalithic Tombs
Remains of the ramparts of an early German castle have been preserved on Schlossberg near Altkalen. The castle stood until 1311; before that, a Slavic fortification stood there. These two phases give the place a long history of fortifications, with traces that can be clearly distinguished by period.
The Neolithic megalithic tombs in Lüchower Forest and Postmoor date from a much earlier period: both are more than 4,000 years old. Part of Altkalen’s former town rampart is still accessible on foot. Castle Hill behind the church can be reached from the lakeside. As access to the terrain may vary, follow the conditions on site.
Swimming and Fishing
Swimming is possible at Neu Pannekower See near Altkalen. Check local conditions before swimming. Fishing is possible at Pfarrsee; permits and rules may apply. The two lakes therefore offer different activities that you can take into account separately when planning your trip.
More to Explore in the Broader Rostock Destination
The broader Rostock destination offers additional natural and cultural highlights. Sternberg Lake District Nature Park, with its deeply incised breakthrough valleys along the Warnow, lakes, hills and extensive forests, is especially suited to hiking and cycling. The Mecklenburg Baltic Sea Coast is also one of the key tourist regions in Rostock district; the Rostock region encompasses 62 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline with several seaside resorts.
The historic Molli narrow-gauge railway between Kühlungsborn and Bad Doberan offers another perspective. It is the oldest narrow-gauge railway on the Baltic coast. With its 900-millimetre gauge, it has shaped the local townscape since 1886. This makes it possible to distinguish Altkalen’s focus on the mill, fortification history and lakes from the nature, coast and railway themes of the broader Rostock destination.
When planning a broader trip, the regional nature, coast and railway themes mentioned above may also influence your choice of destination.
Discover more destinations: Behren-LĂĽbchin, Boddin, LĂĽhburg, Finkenthal, Walkendorf
Back to the broader travel overview: Gnoien District.
