Vacation paradise almost in the middle of Usedom: Mellenthin moated castle

There is a lot to discover in the hinterland of the island of Usedom, especially if you turn off the main roads. For us, the Mellenthin moated castle is one of the tips not to be missed.

In the heart of the island, the path leads us along cobbled streets through a tranquil little village. We walk around the village green and can already see Mellenthin moated castle ahead of us. We can leave the car in a large parking lot right next to the moat and start our excursion.

The history of Mellenthin moated castle

Mellenthin has belonged to the noble von Neuenkirchen family since the 14th century. Rüdiger von Nienkerken (Neuenkirchen) had Mellenthin Castle built there from 1575.

Unfortunately, the succession of the family was not assured and so after the Thirty Years’ War, Queen Christina of Sweden gave the estate to a retainer. Ownership changed over the next few years. In 1931, an estate agent acquired the moated castle and the adjoining 120 hectares of land. The remaining estate land was settled.

After the Second World War, the government expropriated the landowner. The municipality now managed the building complex. It was used for a wide variety of purposes: apartments, a kindergarten, a local history museum, a restaurant and a hotel.

After the political change, the property was privatized and sold. The contract was not awarded to the highest bidder, but to the one who presented a convincing utilization concept.

View of the castle building

An avenue leads through the village past the former farm buildings to Mellenthin moated castle. This stands on a small artificial island surrounded by a moat about 20 meters wide. A bridge leads from the village over the moat to the island.

Once you step through the entrance gate, you stand on a fairly large forecourt and look out onto the main building of the complex. The two-storey brick building is framed on the right and left by two wings. Although both side wings touch the main building, there are no connections inside.

The south-western side wing (the right-hand side wing if you are standing in the courtyard) was built at around the same time as the main building. There are two large hall-like rooms here. Before the renovation, there were partition walls that created smaller rooms for guests and servants and a chapel. Today, the brewery is housed here.

The second side wing was built in the 17th century and originally served as a stable. Today it houses the hotel.

The entrance to the main house leads up a few steps through a small porch. The groined ribbed vault is very beautiful and can be seen here. If you look closely, you will also discover a plaque with an inscription and the coat of arms of the von Neuenkirchen family from 1596. If you take a look behind the main house, you will discover a terrace where you can sit comfortably in summer and look out over the surrounding countryside.

Mellenthin moated castle – the hotel

From the courtyard in front of the castle grounds, you enter the side wing with the hotel. This and the former granary building, one of the farm buildings in front of the castle grounds, have been converted into rooms of various categories.

We had a look around and realized that we would like to stay here for a few nights. With room sizes of over 20 m² in some cases, the rooms are quite spacious. The rooms have modern and generously designed bathrooms. Each room is comfortably and tastefully furnished in warm colors and with lots of wood. The beds looked very comfortable and there is plenty of closet space for travelers with a lot of luggage.

Hotel guests have access to a wellness area with a sauna and a saunarium. Afterwards, you can relax in a beautiful conservatory and enjoy the view of nature.

Coffee and cake enjoyment

The restaurant in the main building is particularly tempting. We were drawn here for coffee and cake. But there is also the option of lunch or a stylish dinner.

The restaurant area is divided into several rooms of different sizes, which are opened depending on how busy they are. This is particularly nice when groups sit together in one room and the individual guest has a little more peace and quiet in another area.

First we made our choice at the cake buffet, which was really difficult for me. The homemade cakes all looked incredibly delicious. I always think it’s a shame that there are no cake tasting boards where you get a mini slice of each cake, similar to a beer tasting. So I had to make a decision and I have to say, the choice was excellent! I chose a chocolatey cake and Patrick a nutty version.

The cake was accompanied by a cup of coffee. Of course, it was our own coffee, because we roast our own coffee at Mellenthin moated castle. Later we visited the in-house roastery. Here we learned a lot about coffee production.

The beer from the Mellenthin brewery – a real treat

Mellenthin moated castle on Usedom is also home to its own brewery, which delights beer lovers with its hand-crafted specialties. The brewery is located in the second wing of the castle.

The brewery restaurant is at ground level. There are rustic benches and tables in a large open room. Changing themed evenings are held here, such as the medieval knights’ buffet, pirates’ evening, ghost evening, brewers’ evening, Pomeranian buffet, castle barbecue and Sunday brunch. The two copper brewing kettles, in which Mellenthin beer is regularly brewed, are certainly eye-catching.

A staircase leads up to the brewery’s attic, out of sight of visitors. The various ingredients for the beer are stored here and the freshly brewed beer is stored in several tanks. At the back of the brewery restaurant is another area where the brewer stores and bottles the beer. Here, guests can watch the brewer at work through a window. However, if you want to find out more about how the beer is brewed in Mellenthin moated castle, you can also take part in the regular guided tour.

I found it particularly exciting that the brewers also implement very unusual ideas. For example, a regional producer has vast quantities of hemp and cannot sell it. That was the birth of hemp beer. After some “experiments” to determine the exact amount of hemp allowed in the finished beer, a good-tasting beer was created that is still on sale today. The use of hemp in the brewing process is subject to strict legal regulations in Germany, particularly with regard to the THC content, which must not exceed 0.2 percent. This ensures that the beer has no psychoactive effects, but merely utilizes the taste and aromatic properties of hemp.

Of course, you can also take part in a beer tasting. Unfortunately, we still had to drive, so we decided to take a few beers home with us. We were particularly impressed by the Helle and the seasonal Santa Claus.

I like the subtle malt notes, which are accompanied by a hint of honey and fresh, floral nuances.

The taste is full-bodied and smooth and, above all, not too sweet. The subtle hint of hops rounds off the taste perfectly.

Mellenthiner Weizen

The brewery’s wheat beer is more of a summer beer and was not available in the store at the time. That’s a shame because it’s supposed to be a real treat for lovers of fruity and refreshing beers, just like Patrick loves it.

With its cloudy, golden yellow color and lush head, it is a classic that tastes of banana and clove, like almost all wheat beers.

Mellenthiner Kräuterbier

To be honest, we didn’t dare try the herbal beer from the Mellenthin brewery. It is brewed with a mixture of selected herbs and spices such as rosemary, thyme and mint. It reminded me a lot of “health” and so I decided to take a different beer home with me.

I have to admit, as I have no idea what hemp tastes like, the beer surprised me a little. I was expecting an intense flavor, but to my palate it was more of a typical bock beer.

Fancy a lemonade?

If you don’t like beer, you can look forward to the brewery’s own lemonade. The brewing water is currently being used to make cola, orange and lemonade. There are plans to expand the range with melon, sea buckthorn and rhubarb flavors.

Coffee roastery and distillery

Just a few steps away from Mellenthin moated castle, in one of the former farm buildings, is the company’s coffee roastery and distillery. We were delighted to include this in our visit.

My nose was a little confused when we opened the door. The most delicious coffee aromas floated through the room and at the same time, the air was permeated with clouds of alcohol. A distillation process was underway and the distillate was dripping into a collecting container before it was to be processed further.

This is one of the places where the beans for the “first Usedom coffee roastery” are roasted. The demand for coffee has increased so much over the years that the first roasting drum, which is located in the former castle courtyard chapel, is no longer sufficient. The new roastery now offers the opportunity to learn about roasting and, of course, to taste and buy the special coffee blends.

Spirits from Mellenthin moated castle

In the distillery at Wasserschloss Mellenthin, various fine spirits are produced in the traditional way and with great attention to detail. The distillery is known for its use of regional raw materials and production in small batches, which guarantees the quality and unique character of the spirits. The production process of the various spirits is explained during a tour. There is of course also the opportunity to take part in a tasting.

Unfortunately, we had to miss out on the tasting as we had to drive home, but we will definitely make up for it. We are too interested in whether we like it.

Gin

Usedom Gin is one of the distillery’s main attractions. It is a classic dry gin with a fine balance of juniper and regional botanicals.

Rum

The dark, aromatic rum is produced in the distillery with great dedication and is aged for a long time in wooden barrels. After maturing, it has warm notes of vanilla, caramel and dried fruit.

Whisky

The single malt whisky from the Usedom distillery is a highlight for connoisseurs. It is produced in small batches and impresses with its regional flavor. The taste is complex and has a malty, slightly smoky note. Connoisseurs will taste nuances of honey, nuts and a hint of peat.

Beer spirit

A specialty of the distillery is the beer spirit, which is made from the Mellenthin brewery’s own beer. The clear spirit captures the malty and slightly hoppy taste of the beer.

Liqueurs

Those who prefer something a little sweeter can fall back on one of the many liqueurs. The distiller produces these in the manufactory. Depending on the season, different flavors are created that are sure to find their fans.

Is the visit worthwhile?

One thing should be clear before you visit. Mellenthin moated castle is a hotel and restaurant and not a museum. Nevertheless, there is plenty to discover in the brewery restaurant, for example, that is reminiscent of times gone by.

In our opinion, it is definitely worth a visit for cake, beer, spirits and coffee fans and for lovers of good food.

We will definitely drive by again, spend the night there and try the beer and the high-proof delicacies.

Address:

Schlossallee 5
17429 Mellenthin

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