Parlow: Moorland Views and Village History

Parlow is a village surrounded by fields and, beyond them, forests. From the observation tower near Parlow, you can look out across a moor at the site of the former Mellnsee lake. The tower is in the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve. The landscape, wildlife watching and architectural history reveal different sides of the area: the moor is complemented by trails with historical points of interest, a granary and a village church.

Moorland and Wildlife Watching

The moor by the observation tower provides a habitat for brown mosses and peat mosses. Mellnsee is no longer visible: the observation tower stands beside the silted-up shallow lake, which has valuable remnants of moorland. From the tower, you can watch deer, meadow-breeding birds and numerous birds of prey. During migration, cranes can be seen in the area around the village and, with a little luck, during the breeding season too. The opportunities for wildlife watching vary: the tower offers a chance to see several groups of animals, while cranes can be spotted in the village’s surroundings at certain times of year.

Circular Trails with Different Destinations

The Mellin Circular Trail passes the old cemetery of the vanished village of Mellin and the Franz Neumann memorial stone. The Prüßnick Circular Trail invites you to stop for a break on the shore of the Großer or Kleiner Prüßnicksee lakes at any time of year. These offer two different kinds of outing: one leads to historical points of interest, while the other offers a break by the lake. Which route you choose depends on whether you would rather focus on local history or take a break by the water.

Granary, Cranes and Village Church

Parlow’s granary was built around 1860 and has largely retained its original appearance. As a former estate building dating from 1860, the restored granary is the village’s historic and cultural centrepiece. It includes a working grist mill and an exhibition about cranes and village life. Parlow’s Crane Information Centre offers another way to learn about cranes, with a photo exhibition, a film and information materials.

The village church also has its own history and a clearly defined architectural style. Moritz von Wedel–Parlow had it built at his own expense; it was consecrated in 1860. The church is a single-nave, Romanesque Revival brick building with an apse and a west tower. Its architectural features offer another way to appreciate its history.

More Cultural Highlights in Friedrichswalde

In the wider destination of Friedrichswalde, the Heimatverein “Pfälzer Erbe” keeps the tradition of wooden-shoe making alive and nurtures it. The Reformed Church in Friedrichswalde was built between 1776 and 1783. Its half-timbered structure was encased in brick in 1890; this single-nave brick building is particularly striking architecturally.

Choose Your Stay Based on Your Interests

When looking for accommodation for your trip, it may help to consider what you would like to focus on: would you like to make time for wildlife watching from the observation tower, or plan your outing around a circular trail or the historic buildings? This can help you decide which experiences will shape your stay.

Back to the main travel overview: Friedrichswalde.