The brick church in Groß Mohrdorf brings together several centuries of architectural and art history; at the same time, the “Crane, Art & Coast” cycling tour passes through the village. This makes Groß Mohrdorf a destination for culture-loving cyclists: the church offers a distinct historical focus, while the route provides a longer activity through several places.
Church and Chapel: Building History and Furnishings
The brick church was built in the second half of the 13th century. The altar and pulpit were made by Stralsund sculptor Johannes Wendt around 1700. The Baroque baptismal angel is a work by Elias Keßler from 1724; Friedrich Albert Mehmel built the organ in 1870. The church thus combines a medieval building with Baroque furnishings and a 19th-century organ. This span of time extends from the construction of the church to the works of art added later, giving the history of the place a distinct framework.
Three neo-Gothic mausoleums stand in the church cemetery. The Preetz Chapel is also located there. Inside, a large marble angel inspired by antiquity and blue glass windows with floral motifs create a contrast with the church’s brick architecture. The chapel is opened for visits; check current visiting arrangements before your visit. Concerts and church services are also held in the church. If you would like to attend a concert, check the specific date in advance.
Cycling Tour Through Groß Mohrdorf
The 38-kilometre “Crane, Art & Coast” cycling tour passes through Prohn, Klein Damitz, Klausdorf, Barhöft and Hohendorf, among other places, before reaching Groß Mohrdorf. It then continues via Bisdorf, Kinnbackenhagen, Nisdorf, Neuen- and Altenpleen, and Sommerfeld before returning to Prohn. The stated duration is about seven hours. Visits to attractions take additional time, so you should allow for this separately.
The route is flat to gently rolling and has a variety of road surfaces. These are useful points to keep in mind when planning your time: the approximately seven hours refer to the cycling tour, not to additional visits along the way. If you would like to spend longer exploring the church’s art or other stops, allow for that time separately.
Hohendorf Castle and Nature Watching in the Municipality
Hohendorf Castle stands in the village of Hohendorf, within the municipality. It was built in 1854 for the von Klot-Trautvetter family, based on plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, in the Tudor Revival style. The castle includes a three-hectare park with old oak and beech trees; the grounds were designed based on plans by Peter Joseph Lenné. Compared with the medieval brick church, the castle offers a different architectural focus within the municipality.
Hohendorf Castle offers castle apartments for holiday stays. The accommodation is in Hohendorf, not in Groß Mohrdorf itself; check availability before booking. This allows you to distinguish between accommodation in your destination and an option elsewhere in the municipality.
There are also opportunities for nature watching across the municipality. From Bisdorf, a woodland and field path leads to an observation platform where you can watch cranes at sunrise and sunset in spring or autumn. Cranes can be observed in the immediate vicinity of Hohendorf Castle twice a year; conditions vary from one migration year to another. The shallow lagoons of Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park offer an indication of the regional scale: at times, up to 70,000 birds can be seen there.
Discover more destinations: Prohn, Kramerhof, Altenpleen, Klausdorf, Preetz.
Go to the regional travel overview: Amt Altenpleen.
