Preetz offers three distinct cultural themes to consider when planning your trip: a surviving medieval monastery complex, the historic furnishings of the town church, and a long-standing clog-making tradition. Architectural history and church art sit alongside a craft associated with the name “Preetz clogs.” If you are looking for a holiday apartment for your stay, these highlights can help you weigh your interests when choosing a destination: architecture, religious furnishings, or local crafts.
Monastery Complex and Town Church
The Preetz Noble Convent is a surviving medieval complex. It includes a Gothic brick church, former convent buildings, and a historic gatehouse dating from 1737. Notable interior furnishings include a large Gothic choir stall, an old Nativity scene, and a painted Mass of Saint Gregory. This brings together architectural features and specific examples of religious furnishings; the date 1737 gives the gatehouse its own historical reference point.
The town church has a different focus: it preserves a late Romanesque stone choir dating from around 1200. Its historic furnishings include a Romanesque baptismal font from the 13th century, Renaissance chandeliers, bronze crowns from the 17th century, and a suspended baptismal angel from the 18th century.
The dates make the differences between the two themes clear: the monastery complex combines medieval fabric with the gatehouse of 1737. At the town church, the late Romanesque choir is complemented by furnishings spanning the 13th to the 18th century. This lets you consider architecture, construction periods, and later furnishings as distinct aspects of religious history.
Clogs as a Craft Tradition
Preetz also preserves a long-standing clog-making tradition. Lorenz Hamann’s family has practiced the craft for five generations; the shoes they make are known as Preetz clogs. This cultural highlight offers a different focus from the religious buildings: it centers on a craft maintained over generations and known by a local name. If you choose destinations based on more than churches and historic buildings, this tradition offers another distinctive perspective on Preetz.
Plön as the Broader Travel Destination
In regional terms, the district of Plön lies between the Baltic Sea and the Holstein Switzerland nature region and has around 50 kilometers of Baltic coastline. The district includes around 80 lakes, including Lake Plön, at 29 km², and Lake Selent, at 22 km². Coast and lakes offer different landscape themes within the broader destination of Plön.
Along the Baltic coast of the district of Plön, swimming is possible from Mönkeberg to Sehlendorfer Strand. Sailing, surfing, diving, boat trips, offshore sailing trips, cutter trips, and surf fishing are also possible there. On the lakes, you can travel by sailboat or excursion boat; the Schwentine water trail can be explored by canoe in the district of Plön. The region therefore offers a choice of coastal activities as well as activities on inland waters.
The gently rolling landscape of the district of Plön offers suitable conditions for cycling and hiking. The signposted cycle route network covers 850 kilometers; individual routes may change. Developed Nordic walking trails add to the options on land. Large parts of the district belong to the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park. It covers 75,000 hectares and offers opportunities to experience nature and see rare animals.
Discover more destinations: Schlesen, Kühren, Kletkamp, Stakendorf, Nehmten, Nettelsee, Ruhwinkel, Löptin.
Go to the broader travel overview: Plön.
