The village of Damerow is located very close to the Brandenburg state border in the municipality of Rollwitz. In the slightly hilly and predominantly agricultural region, the Damerow manor lies between the Pasewalk church forest and the high plateau of the Uckermark.
The place name Damerow means “oak forest”. According to archaeological finds that are over 1100 years old, the place must have existed for quite a long time. However, almost nothing is known about the old settlement history. What is known is that the Damerow manor existed until the 17th century and belonged to the von Lindstedt family.
Afterwards, the von Winterfeld family, a noble family from the Salzwedel region, moved into the estate. Gustav von Winterfeld had his manor house built in Damerow from 1845. He chose the place as his residence and thus promoted the upswing of the region. At that time, there is said to have been a large sheep farm.
Around 1860, the Damerow manor must have looked like this picture.
The Damerow manor was owned by the Winterfeld family until 1945. In that year, the manor house burnt down to the ground.
The descendants of the family came back to the village after the political change and have since been restoring the estate bit by bit with much love.
Damerow was an independent municipality until 2012, when it was incorporated into Rollwitz. Today, just under 125 people live in the small village. All the services that existed until reunification, such as kindergarten, post office and grocery store, closed down after the number of inhabitants halved.
Today, only remnants of the manor and the castle park remain. Damerow Castle is no longer preserved, only the house of the estate administrator is used by the family again today.
Little village tour
The estate museum with its adjoining café and coworking area is the ideal starting point for a short tour of the village.
After a coffee and a snack, it is worth taking a look at the small museum. The listed earthen building was used as a classroom and teacher’s residence from 1723-26. The rooms of the former school have been lovingly restored and are filled with interesting facts about the village and little village stories.
The café and coworking area offers a separate room with up to 10 workstations and Wi-Fi access. There is a large inviting terrace and a garden that is also suitable for relaxed working.
In a neighbouring building there is now a photo and rental studio, where you can find plenty of peace and quiet for your work. Right next door there is the possibility to stay overnight in a holiday home.
In the former stables there is an event room that is often booked for family celebrations.
The path leads past the village pond with its picnic areas towards the estate. The former steward’s house is now the family home. There is a branch of the registry office here and you can use the rooms on the ground floor for a wedding ceremony.
A walk through the estate park leads to the ruined church. The church has stood deserted here since 1441. Trees grow between the remains of the walls and make the place seem almost mystical. I can imagine that the mist drifting through here would make a great backdrop for films. In front of the ruins is the family cemetery. Ancient gravestones stand in front of the remains of the church wall and remind us of times gone by.
Those with plenty of time should then take a walk through the small forest that belongs to the manor.
Address:
Schulstr. 2
17309 Rollwitz
Disclosure: I got to know the Rittergut Damerow and what it has to offer on a press trip to the Mitsommer Remise. This article is my own opinion and was written independently of the trip.
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