Discover Dargun

Dargun brings together history, forest and water, offering different themes for your trip. Architecture and culture take centre stage at the monastery and palace complex; in Dargun’s recreation forest, adventure trails lead through history and nature. The Klostersee lake adds opportunities for walks and water activities. This lets you plan your days around the themes that interest you most.

Monastery and palace complex: views, history and culture

The observation tower at the monastery and palace complex is accessible via a spiral staircase with 92 steps. Its viewing platform is 25 metres high, offering views across Dargun, the Klostersee lake and the complex. The imposing walls of the former monastery can also be seen on a guided tour of the grounds. Since 1990, the monastery and palace complex has been secured, renovated, put to use and opened to visitors.

The complex is also a venue for events: numerous events are held here every year, including the Dargun Summer of Music. Concerts and church services take place in St. Mary’s Church. Alongside its historic sights, Dargun therefore offers a cultural programme that may appeal to a range of interests.

Museum and traces of history

“Uns lütt Museum” is a local history museum where visitors can touch and try things out. It is located in the monastery’s former guesthouse, covers 760 square metres and displays its collection in 15 rooms as well as outdoors. The combination of museum rooms and outdoor areas makes for a different kind of visit than viewing the walls and buildings of the monastery and palace complex.

Another way to explore history is the historic “Slavic hillfort” adventure trail in Dargun’s recreation forest. Information boards explain how Slavs lived and worked over 1,000 years ago. This trail offers a distinct focus: rather than an indoor exhibition, it presents historical themes along an adventure trail through the forest.

Forest trails and a maze

The forest adventure trail in Dargun’s recreation forest has 15 stations and offers a choice of two routes: the three-kilometre “Überläufer” (“Yearling”) Trail and the 1.5-kilometre “Frischling” (“Young Wild Boar”) Trail. The different lengths help you decide how much time to spend on this part of the day. Both routes are part of the same forest adventure trail, so comparing the stated distances is especially helpful when planning.

Another attraction is the maze at Waldeck. It covers 8,500 square metres and consists of hornbeam hedges taller than a person. It is described as an experience for the whole family. Together with the two forest adventure trail routes, it offers a different way to spend time outdoors: stations, route lengths and a hedge maze each shape a distinct way to enjoy the recreation forest.

Klostersee lake and nature parks

Dargun’s Klostersee lake invites visitors to stroll along the lakeside promenade, swim, fish and go boating. Alongside history and forest, water is therefore another theme to choose from. If you would like to combine culture with activities by the lake, you can take both interests into account when planning your trip, without having to follow any particular order during your stay.

Dargun is the gateway to the “Mecklenburg Switzerland and Lake Kummerow” and “Peene Valley River Landscape” nature parks. The Dargun watermill also adds to the area’s historic attractions: this technical monument was built as a watermill by Cistercian monks in the 13th century. Together, these places and activities offer a range of starting points for your choice: views and monastic history, a museum visit, trails in the forest or time by the water.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Neustrelitz, Vielist, Amt Friedland, Amt Seenlandschaft Waren, Amt Neustrelitz-Land, Demmin, Amt Stargarder Land, Neubrandenburg.

Back to the main travel overview: Mecklenburg Lake District.