Pritzwalk: Discover history and nature

Pritzwalk combines historic townscapes and reminders of its industrial heritage with woodland paths and opportunities to enjoy nature. You can shape your trip in different ways: with a stroll through the old town, visits to exhibitions and architectural landmarks, or time in Hainholz. When looking for accommodation, start with a simple priority: are you mainly interested in culture and local history, or are walking trails and nature your focus? You can then check more closely which location might suit your trip.

Old Town, Architecture and Industrial Heritage

The Pritzwalk Museum Factory covers the history of the town and its surrounding area, industrialisation in rural regions, and the history of the brewery and cloth factory. The exhibition is complemented by interactive themed tours and hands-on activities in the museum’s own print shop and textile workshop. Checking the current programme before your visit can help with planning. From the viewing platform, you can look out over Pritzwalk and the surrounding area.

Buildings around the market square also tell the story of different eras: St Nicholas Church preserves remnants of a medieval fieldstone building; its 72-metre-high Neo-Gothic tower dates from 1882. The Neoclassical town hall on the market square was completed in 1829. The market square is the centre of the old town and the setting for major events, including the Musikalischer Frühling, the Pritzwalker Festtage, Herbstleuchten and the Christmas market. The dates of individual events may vary.

On Dömnitz Island, the cloth factory and brewery grounds are listed as examples of 19th- and 20th-century industrial architecture. Kathfelder Mill, a listed technical monument, has been preserved on the Dömnitz at the northwestern edge of town. In the north, remnants of the fortifications along the Dömnitz recall medieval Pritzwalk. Another glimpse into the town’s history can be found at the old signal box at the railway station: the Museum of Railway Technology and Railway Police History opened there on 1 May. A 2025 opening report mentions an electromechanical signal box for train dispatchers, historical telecommunications equipment such as radio telephones and intercom systems, as well as uniforms, work clothes, photographs and documents.

Forest Trails, Walks and Cycling

Hainholz, a 250-hectare woodland on the northeastern edge of town, has a well-developed network of paths. Several themed routes invite visitors to walk in the forest, and a paved cycle path leads to Streckenthin. Those wishing to explore nature in more depth can visit the nature exhibition and take part in the forest education programme at Hainholz Nature Conservation Station. In the south of Pritzwalk, the small woodland at Trappenberg is also used for walks.

For a short walk to get your bearings, a green route circles the old town; the walk takes about 30 minutes. The 38-kilometre Pollotour offers a longer ride: it follows developed cycle paths through Pritzwalk and the surrounding area, through gently rolling countryside of fields, meadows and forests. Check the current route locally before setting off. In the wider travel destination of Prignitz, the Brandenburg section of the cross-state “Elbe River Landscape – Brandenburg” Biosphere Reserve covers around 53,000 hectares and lies almost entirely within Prignitz district.

Wildlife, Events and Seasonal Food

At Hainholz, the petting farm is home to around 170 animals across 0.7 hectares. Animals include rabbits, sheep, goats, peacocks, ducks, ferrets and guinea pigs. Check current operating details before your visit. Pritzwalk Cultural Centre has been involved for many years in cultural and community events in and around the town. These include children’s theatre, family celebrations, and music and dance events; dates vary.

A seasonal outing takes you to the Pritzwalk Blueberry Plantation: from early July to late August, you can pick blueberries there, and the fruit is also sold in the farm shop. Dates and picking opportunities may vary from one harvest year to another. This makes it a seasonal option in its own right, alongside the year-round appeal of local history and woodland landscapes.

Arriving and Choosing What to Do Next

Pritzwalk railway station is in the south of town, about a ten-minute walk from the old town. The tourist information centre is housed in a museum and is located on the Prignitz cycle route network, next to the Dömnitz Island car park; it is a first point of contact for visitors. As you continue planning, consider whether your priority is short walks around town, exhibitions and events, or longer stays in the countryside. This can help you choose accommodation in a location that suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Buchholz, Lenzen, Rühstädt, Halenbeck-Rohlsdorf, Eldenburg, Lanz, Bad Wilsnack, Groß Pankow.

Go to the wider travel overview: Prignitz.