{"id":23409,"date":"2023-10-30T09:14:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T08:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=23409"},"modified":"2023-03-02T16:39:39","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T15:39:39","slug":"mecklenburg-lake-district","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/germany\/mecklenburg-western-pomerania\/mecklenburg-lake-district\/mecklenburg-lake-district\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Road in the Mecklenburg Lake District"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We spent a few days in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the area of the Mecklenburg Lake District. We explored this beautiful area in many different ways – by bike, by canoe, by steamer and we reached some places by car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

[toc]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By bike to Mirow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The town of Mirow in the Mecklenburg Lake District is only about 2.5 kilometres away from our holiday resort. We went on a discovery tour by bicycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Johanniterkirche<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Johanniter Church<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our first port of call was the Johanniter Church in the village. To be honest, we didn’t really feel like visiting a church. But the sign “Erlebnisturmkirche ge\u00f6ffnet” (“Experience Tower Church Open”) magically attracted us. We wanted to know: What is an Erlebnisturmkirche?
In the entrance area of the church we were greeted very nicely and our question was answered with “it’s worth it, believe me”. Then we were able to discover something on a screen that is otherwise hidden from the visitor – a nest with several young birds of a kestrel. The sight was almost enough for me to declare it an adventure tower church. Watching birds that you otherwise don’t see, or only rarely see, in a big city like Berlin is quite an experience. But that was not all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mirow<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The church tower is 41 metres high and there is a viewing platform at 29 metres. So it was a case of climbing stairs!
Unlike many other church towers we have climbed recently, the 146 steps in this tower are very comfortable – wide and with a good handrail, 10 small landings to catch your breath. So we made our way to the top and now the term experience tower church became tangible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the first two floors of the tower there is a small museum with the theme “Johanniter zu Mirow”. Since 2006, exhibits on the history of the Order of St John in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have been displayed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the third floor we stood in the church’s belfry. The largest bell has a diameter of 845 mm and bears the inscription “O land; land; hear the word of the Lord”. The smallest bell with the inscription “Dona Noblis Pacem” (Give us peace) has a diameter of 660 mm. The bells are rung daily at 12 and 6 pm. Fortunately it was after 12 o’clock and so we could stand here in peace and look at the enormous bells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Glocke<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The path continued up to the fourth floor of the church tower. What awaited us here really amazed me. The entire room was full of books! For only 1\u20ac per book, you could fill up your holiday reading and discover old books here. For a book fan like me, it was paradise! It was hard for me to part with them, but it was a good thing that the descent had to lead past these treasures again later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"B\u00fccher<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The fifth and last floor is then the viewing platform. We were not promised too much – the view over a small part of the Mecklenburg Lake District is simply beautiful! We were able to look over Lake Mirow, see Mirow Castle from above, discover the old town and the market of Mirow and take a look at the Schlossinsel grounds. So the climb was really worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mirower<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Boorsh\u00e4user<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Back in the church, we took a look at the princely crypt. Here are coffins of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz dynasty. Reigning dukes and their wives were buried here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Schlossinsel
17252 Mirow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

1.5 – 17.10.
daily from 10 – 18 h
18.10. – 31.04.
daily from 11 – 17 h
Easter Sunday from 11-17 h
Closed during church service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission prices:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Adults: 3,-\u20ac
Discounts are offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mirow Castle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We walk through the English-style castle garden past the Mirow Castle. The castle was originally built in 1708, but partially burned down in 1742.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it looks rather plain from the outside for a castle. I also find the Kavaliershaus, which was built for the court, rather inconspicuous. The palace has been renovated over a long period of time and now shines with a radiant fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Schloss<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We did not go inside the castle. But you can visit the castle from the inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Love Island Mirow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A bridge leads to the Liebesinsel (island of love) in the palace park. Here is the tomb of the last reigning Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The tomb shows a broken column with a snake winding around it. The column is supposed to symbolise the aborted life of the duke, who chose suicide in 1918. The snake stands for temptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Grabmal<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Love Island with its large trees and water lilies near the shore is a small retreat that is pleasantly cool due to the surrounding water, especially in summer when temperatures are higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Br\u00fccke<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mirow fishing farm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To round off our little cycling trip to Mirow, we went out for fish sandwiches. Not far from the castle island is the Fischereihof Mirow. Here you can not only buy fresh fish, but also smoked fish and eat small fish dishes. We bought smoked sprats, smoked catfish and, of course, fish rolls. It was very disgraceful, especially the catfish was exactly our taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"\/<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Address:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

M\u00fchlenstra\u00dfe 21
17255 Mirow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

October – April<\/strong>
daily 9-18 h
May and September<\/strong>
daily 9-19 h
June – August<\/strong>
daily 9-20 h<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vipperow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vipperow is a small village at the southern tip of the M\u00fcritz. Up to now, it has been a very tranquil place, but there are plans to develop a marina and thus attract tourists to the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We visited two places in Vipperow and were thrilled by both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ostrich farm Brandt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Right next to the through road we discovered an ostrich farm. There are plenty of parking spaces on the premises, which of course tempted us to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Straussenhof<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first thing I did was go on a discovery tour. Directly behind the small farm shop are the ostrich enclosures, which I was able to discover on my own after asking around.
One large enclosure was really lively. The young ostriches were running back and forth. As soon as you approached the fence, they came running and stuck their little heads up. What a curious bunch!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Straussenbabys<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There were other very spacious enclosures to see, with adult ostriches. These also came right up to the fence – I preferred to keep a safe distance, who knows how quickly the animals can snap. It is impressive how long their necks are and how small their heads are compared to their bodies. An ostrich was lying comfortably in the sand. I could see the strong legs very clearly, the running muscles were very pronounced – I wonder if the animals can reach speeds of up to 70 km\/h in captivity. In any case, they didn’t run away, they rather strutted around in full body size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kopf<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After visiting the animals, we went to the small farm shop. A wide variety of products are sold here. From ostrich meat to ostrich eggs, jams and honey from the region or feather dusters made from ostrich feathers. We picked up egg liqueur made from ostrich eggs and a liqueur called “ostrich blood”. The latter is not made of blood, of course, but is a fantastically delicious cherry liqueur that enveloped the whole room in a cherry scent as soon as we opened the bottle. The egg liqueur tastes much more intense than the standard supermarket offerings. It is thick and tastes very much like egg, less like alcohol. I love to put it over chocolate ice cream – just perfect in summer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Strau\u00dfenfarm Brandt
Heide 3
17209 Vipperow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Sunday – Tuesday: 08 – 17 h
Wednesday: 08 – 12 h<\/p>\n\n\n\n