Altenpleen: Discover Cranes and Nature

Altenpleen combines wildlife watching with a direct view of the landscape around Lake Günz. From KRANORAMA, you can look out over the Günzer Seewiesen, a European Special Protection Area for Birds and a National Natural Heritage site. Kranichschutz Deutschland is developing the area in a way that is compatible with nature conservation. This puts a specific nature-related theme at the heart of the visit for travellers interested in cranes and protected landscapes.

Watch Cranes at Lake Günz

KRANORAMA is an accessible crane observation station on Lake Günz. During the crane stopover season, visitors can watch up to 4,000 cranes at a time, thousands of geese and ducks, and numerous white-tailed eagles there, from morning until evening. These sightings are seasonal; taking this into account when planning your trip can help you time your visit to suit your travel dates.

The walk from the car park to KRANORAMA also helps visitors find their way around. It features information boards and places to sit; visitors make their way to the observation station in stages. At the same location, wildlife watching and information along the route are offered as two distinct points of interest.

Walk-Through Themed Worlds and Events

The KRANICHWELTEN visitor centre has a 20,000 m² outdoor area with walk-through insect and bog worlds. Places to sit and relax complement the facilities. Alongside wildlife watching at Lake Günz, the outdoor area offers another way to explore nature-related themes: you can focus on birds or on the walk-through worlds.

The NABU KRANICHWELTEN visitor centre is also the starting point for numerous excursions and other events. These include the annual “Week of the Crane”, held in September. If you would like to include this event in your trip, check the latest event dates in advance. The event and watching the birds as they stop over are two different reasons to make cranes the focus of your stay.

Bus Connection and Cycling Route to Günz

Bus route 305 runs from Stralsund and Barth to Günz. From the bus stop, it is about a 500 m walk to KRANICHWELTEN. For specific planning, check the latest timetable with the transport operator or the relevant authority.

From Barth, a cycling route leads to KRANICHWELTEN via the Baltic Sea Cycle Route, Nisdorf and Günz. The route is about 18 km long and passable throughout; check current conditions before setting off. This gives you two different factors to consider when comparing ways to get there: a bus journey followed by a walk of about 500 m, or a cycling route of around 18 km.

Manor House and Regional Heritage

Another historical landmark is the listed Altenpleen manor house. It is privately owned and was built in the second half of the 19th century on the site of a former manor estate. The nature-focused experience at Lake Günz and the architectural history of the manor house offer different ways to discover Altenpleen.

At the broader destination level of Vorpommern-Rügen, another cultural dimension comes into play: Vorpommern-Rügen is known, among other things, for the Störtebeker Festival. There are an estimated 60 museums in the district.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Klausdorf, Kramerhof, Preetz, Groß Mohrdorf, Prohn.

For the broader travel overview: Amt Altenpleen.