Stavenhagen: Literature, History and Routes

Stavenhagen combines literary history with historic buildings and routes for cycling and hiking. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether you would like to focus on culture and local history or on active days. The Fritz Reuter Literature Museum is particularly prominent; other local sights include the town church, the historic market square and more.

Fritz Reuter and the Literature Museum

The Fritz Reuter Literature Museum is housed in the former town hall on the market square. Its collections include manuscripts, documents and objects from the period. It also has a specialist library with around 15,000 volumes. The exhibition explores Fritz Reuter’s life, work and influence, including the development of Low German and the reception of his works.

A museum visit also includes audio and film examples, computer stations and a film room showing adaptations of Reuter’s works. Some media offerings may change, so check which ones are currently available before your visit. There are five specially named stations for children: “för mi”. The Fritz Reuter Literature Museum also has a lift for wheelchair users; please confirm this facility before you arrive.

A permanent exhibition in a second building is devoted to the life and work of the painter and illustrator Ernst Lübbert. It displays paintings from the museum’s collection as well as loans. Stavenhagen thus offers different ways to explore literature and art side by side: an insight into Reuter and Low German literature, as well as a dedicated exhibition on Lübbert.

Market Square, Church and Castle

A Reuter monument stands on the historic market square; Reuter’s graves are also among Stavenhagen’s sights. The town church dates from the 18th century. Construction of the present building began in 1774, it was consecrated in 1782, and it was completed in 1790 with the finishing of the tower. This timeline makes the church’s construction history easy to follow.

Stavenhagen’s old castle is now a municipal and administrative centre, complemented by a well-maintained park. Together with the church, market square and museum, it offers a cultural programme covering different periods and themes in the town’s history. When planning your day, you can combine these sights with the routes rather than limiting your visit to a single museum.

Hiking and Cycling

Stavenhagen is connected to a network of cycling and hiking trails. The European long-distance hiking route E9a passes through Stavenhagen. Its described route runs from Basedow via Gielow, Gülzow Forest and Pribbenow to Stavenhagen, then continues to Ivenack Animal Park, Weitendorf and Grischow, and towards Lake Kastorf. The E9a therefore serves as a guide for anyone considering Stavenhagen as part of a longer hiking route.

Another option is the Fritz Reuter cycling circuit, which crosses the Stavenhagen planning area. From Jürgenstorf, the route runs via Pribbenow to the market square in the town of Reuter and the Fritz Reuter Literature Museum, then continues towards Gülzow. The two routes thus offer a contrast between a long-distance hiking trail and a cycling route that takes in the market square and museum. The type of day out you prefer can also guide your search for accommodation in Stavenhagen.

More nature experiences in the wider destination

The Müritz National Park is also among the nature attractions in the wider Mecklenburg Lake District destination. Its landscape is shaped by forests, marshes, lakes and open meadows. The Müritz National Park Hiking Trail explores the area in nine stages: the route follows lakeshores, passes through ancient forests and by inland dunes, and reaches the source of the Havel.

Another nature attraction in the wider Mecklenburg Lake District destination is the Damerow Werder Bison Reserve. It lies on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and the Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park; visitors can observe the animals there. The reserve also has a forest adventure trail with climbing activities, an anthill house, an exhibition with touch and viewing panels, and a dendrophone.

In Stavenhagen, you can choose between literary and historic sights and cycling and hiking routes to shape your visit around different interests. This way, your choice of accommodation can reflect the experiences that interest you most in Stavenhagen.

Discover more destinations: Briggow, Zettemin, Bredenfelde, Gülzow, Mölln, Grammentin, Jürgenstorf, Ivenack.

View the wider travel overview: Amt Stavenhagen.