Gartz (Oder): Town History and Cycle Route

Gartz (Oder) combines a history spanning several eras with cultural sites and a route towards the Baltic Sea. The town tour on offer traces a path from Slavic beginnings through the medieval heyday and the Brandenburg-Prussian period to the present-day border town. A folding town map and QR codes on the information boards at the sights make it easier to find your way around the tour. This lets you discover the town’s historical themes as one continuous story.

A town tour through several eras

Stettin Gate brings this long span of history to life in a single building: it was built from fieldstones in the 13th century and is the only one of Gartz (Oder)’s four gates to have survived. The Ackerbürgermuseum (Smallholders’ Museum) is housed in the former gatekeeper’s house and the adjoining half-timbered house at Stettin Gate. It shows what life was like in the smallholders’ town in the 18th and 19th centuries. For current opening hours, it is advisable to call ahead.

Construction of St. Stephen’s Church also dates back to the 13th century. During the summer months, concerts and events are held there in the open air. Visitors interested in historic buildings can therefore see two different structures dating from the 13th century: the surviving town gate and a church whose construction began in the Middle Ages.

Cultural sites and events

The Heilig-Geist-Hospital, also known as the Spittel, is now used by the local history association for exhibitions and concerts. The Kanonenschuppen (Cannon Shed) points to a different cultural moment: following extensive restoration work, it was handed over in 1995 as a public cultural venue for the town and its visitors. These two sites provide different historical points of reference for culture in Gartz (Oder), without presupposing any specific events programme.

When to visit and getting around

Crane Days are held every year in Gartz (Oder) and Mescherin in late September and/or early October, with a programme centred on cranes. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for your chosen year. The Oder-Neiße Cycle Route passes through Gartz (Oder) and Mescherin on its way towards the Baltic Sea. This gives you a choice of different ways to shape your stay: a town tour and cultural attractions, or a cycling trip that takes you through Gartz (Oder) on the way to the Baltic Sea. Consider which of these interests should guide your search for accommodation.

Uckermark: regional nature and culture

The Uckermark, as a broader travel destination, offers further ideas for planning your trip. The Uckermark Lakes Nature Park lies amid the water-rich, gently rolling Uckermark landscape and includes clear-water lakes, kettle holes and wetlands. It offers more than 150 kilometres of water trails and over 600 kilometres of signposted hiking trails. These nature and water routes form a distinct regional focus alongside the town tours and cultural sites in Gartz (Oder).

The Lower Oder Valley National Park is another regional option: it lies on the eastern edge of the Uckermark and is directly connected to the Oder and neighbouring Poland. Visitors can paddle along several routes through narrow old branches of the Oder accompanied by certified canoe guides; depending on the route, the season runs from May or July through November. For families interested in including regional cultural events, the annual Rafting Festival in Lychen offers another occasion. It takes place on the Oberpfuhl promenade and features an entertainment programme and hands-on activities for children and adults on both days.

Discover more destinations

Lychen, Mescherin, Neuhof, Milmersdorf, Schwedt/Oder, Temmen-Ringenwalde, Pinnow, Schöneberg

Go to the main travel overview: Uckermark.