The Holy Cross Church gives Kemnitz a clear cultural and historical focal point: its construction phases, dating from around 1300 to the tower added in 1841, can be traced. The village setting also includes 18th-century thatched houses and a large village pond. Architecture, village life and cycling thus offer different perspectives on the place.
The Building History of the Holy Cross Church
The Holy Cross Church was built around 1300 under the patronage of Eldena Monastery and was repeatedly badly damaged over the course of its history. In 1743, Andreas Mayer, an architect at the University of Greifswald, redesigned the church. The tower was added in 1841; its Neo-Gothic form is complemented by four small corner turrets. The early church building, Mayer’s redesign and the later addition of the tower can therefore be viewed as distinct construction phases.
Mayer also designed the surviving pulpit altar, the most prominent feature of the interior. The church is a listed historic monument. The key is available from the Kemnitz parish office; check locally about access before your visit. A small exhibition about the painter Friedrich August von Klinkowström is located in the rectory next to the church. If you would like to include it in your plans, ask in advance whether it is open to visitors.
The Village Street and Its Landscape
One street is lined with 18th-century thatched houses, and a large village pond is also part of this streetscape. This offers a different perspective from the church: the focus here is on houses and water in the village setting, rather than construction phases and interior features. Visitors interested in historic architecture will find other local details to explore alongside the church building.
Cycling Routes Around Kemnitz
The Baltic Coast Cycle Route runs from Greifswald through the surrounding area and on to Kemnitz-Loissin. The route towards Kemnitz and Loissin follows a well-developed cycle path. Distances given for the route are 5.5 kilometres to Kemnitz and 18 kilometres to Lubmin. The two figures differ considerably and provide separate distances for planning.
Before setting off, check the route and signage, as both signs and route information may change. This makes it possible to combine local cultural sights with concrete cycling plans without treating the different destinations as one and the same: Kemnitz-Loissin is named as part of the Baltic Coast Cycle Route, while Lubmin is another destination with its own distance listed.
Vorpommern-Greifswald: Regional Context
The wider travel destination of Vorpommern-Greifswald offers more than the local history of Kemnitz. The district’s three nature parks cover almost 40 percent of its area. In Greifswald, the Pomeranian State Museum displays the Croy Tapestry of 1554, a unique cultural and historical artefact from the Reformation era. A culinary tour through the historic old town takes visitors to four Greifswald restaurants serving sweet and savoury treats. These regional examples each highlight different aspects of landscape, art history and cuisine, adding further topics to consider when planning a trip alongside the local history of the church and village.
Discover more destinations: Wusterhusen, Loissin, Brünzow, Katzow, Hanshagen, Rubenow, Kröslin, Neu Boltenhagen
Go to the overview of the wider travel area: Amt Lubmin.
