Börgerende-Rethwisch: Natural Beach and Village History

Börgerende-Rethwisch combines a natural beach with a distinctive village history. Along the beach, wide stretches of sand alternate with narrower, stony sections; the village church, local history museum, and historic traces by the dike add further points of interest. This lets you take different interests into account when planning—from coastal landscapes and outdoor activities to architecture and local history.

Beach and Trails

The natural beach at Börgerende is bordered by the Jemnitz Sluice to the west and the Nienhagen Ghost Forest to the east. Its character varies between wide sandy stretches and narrower, stony sections. If you are interested in different kinds of beach scenery, you will find both here rather than one uniformly continuous shoreline.

Börgerende-Rethwisch borders the Conventer Niederung nature reserve directly. Seestraße also runs along the edge of the nature reserve around Lake Conventer. These connections to the surrounding landscape add a nature-focused dimension to the beach, making the area particularly appealing for nature enthusiasts.

A popular hiking trail leads east from Börgerende along the steep coast to the Ghost Forest in the Baltic Sea resort of Nienhagen. Cycling routes listed for visitors include round trips from Börgerende-Rethwisch to Nienhagen and via Bad Doberan to Heiligendamm. The two options differ in their stated destinations: one leads to Nienhagen, while the other goes via Bad Doberan to Heiligendamm. The Börgerende-Rethwisch Baltic Sea resort tourist information office provides information about cultural events and leisure activities and sells cycling and hiking maps.

Fishing is also possible in Börgerende-Rethwisch, and there is a boat rental in the village. A 12-hole mini-golf course adds to the local leisure options. The choices range from coastal trails to activities in the village, so you do not have to build your stay around just one focus.

Village Church and Local History

Rethwisch Village Church is a three-aisled, three-bay stepped hall and an example of North German Brick Gothic architecture. These terms describe the church’s articulated interior: the aisles run lengthwise, while the bays mark its sections. The church also contains a valuable winged altarpiece, whose central shrine depicts a Crucifixion scene dating from 1530. A late Gothic rood cross stands against the north wall.

A richly decorated pulpit in the auricular and cartilage-work style adds to the furnishings. It was made from oak by a Rostock artist in 1666. The altarpiece, rood cross, and pulpit thus bring together different art-historical features. For those interested in culture, the church offers several specific points of interest, from Brick Gothic architecture to furnishings created in later periods.

The Börgerende-Rethwisch local history museum offers insights into the community’s 700-year history, traditional local crafts, and agriculture. On the adjacent outdoor grounds, visitors can view historic machinery and agricultural objects. Guided tours and additional opening hours are available by arrangement; it is best to confirm arrangements before you arrive.

One of the last watchtowers used by the GDR border guards stands on the dike at Börgerende. The Jemnitz Sluice, which still exists today, is located near the village. It was built in 1880/82 following the storm surge of November 12–15, 1872. These historic sites represent different periods: the watchtower recalls the GDR border guards, while the sluice relates to the aftermath of the storm surge and the construction that followed.

Plan Your Stay

When choosing accommodation, it helps to prioritize what matters most to you about the area: do you want the natural beach to shape your stay, are you drawn to a hike along the steep coast, or would you like to spend more time at the church and local history museum? Cycling round trips, fishing, boat rentals, and mini-golf broaden the range of activities. You can choose Börgerende-Rethwisch for the themes that matter to your trip, then search for accommodation to suit your plans.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Wittenbeck, Retschow, Steffenshagen, Hohenfelde, Reddelich, Admannshagen-Bargeshagen, Bartenshagen-Parkentin, Nienhagen

Return to the overview of the wider area: Amt Bad Doberan-Land.