Discover Zurow: Lakes, village church and historic farmsteads

Zurow’s history begins with a Slavic village settlement on a sandy peninsula between two lakes. Today, Selliner See and Hofsee remain as remnants of what was once a single lake. Together with the village church and historic buildings in the localities, they offer several starting points for exploring the municipality: landscape history, village architecture or a cycling route connected to the lake.

Lakeside scenery and rural character

In terms of its natural landscape, the municipality of Zurow is part of both the Northwest Mecklenburg Hills with Wismar Bay and the Warin Basin within the West Mecklenburg Lake District. The Neukloster See–Wariner See Landscape Conservation Area includes the Zurow localities of Nakenstorf and Klein Warin. This classification applies to the named localities and landscape areas; it describes different aspects of the municipality, not one continuous landscape.

The history of the two lakes makes the connection with the landscape especially vivid: Selliner See and Hofsee are the surviving remnants of the body of water between which the Slavic village settlement arose. Those interested in how places came into being can consider the landscape and settlement history together here. For a different perspective, the Wismar–Zurow cycling route passes Selliner See, goes through a passage beneath the A20 and then follows a well-maintained cycle path to Zurow. The lake is a specific landmark along the route. As surface conditions can change, it is advisable to check the path conditions before a cycling trip.

Village church and building history

Zurow village church is a brick building dating from around 1380, influenced by Wismar’s parish churches. Its historical role also extends beyond its architectural history: until 1541/42, the church was a pilgrimage site featuring a famous image of the Virgin Mary. This significance belongs to the past; it tells of the village’s religious history, not of a present-day pilgrimage. If you would like to visit the church, please arrange this in advance or ask the neighbours.

Further historic landmarks are spread across various localities and streets. In Reinstorf, a thatched Lower Saxon three-sided farmstead is one of the municipality’s attractions. In Kahlenberg, former manor houses are among the attractions. In Zurow, in the direction of Fahren, there is an old thatched house; in the locality of Fahren, parts of a former estate have been preserved, including the Old Stables. On Zurow’s main street, a church, cemetery, fieldstone wall and mortuary are part of the listed complex. These different buildings offer the opportunity to explore several forms of rural architectural and local history, rather than focusing solely on the church.

Cycling route and bridle paths

For a cycling excursion, the Wismar–Zurow route follows a described sequence: it passes Selliner See, goes beneath the A20 and continues to Zurow on a well-maintained cycle path. If you would rather focus your plans on bridle paths, Klein Warin is another place connected with them. There, bridle paths were designated and signposted in cooperation with the forestry office. An equestrian centre was also established in Klein Warin. For planning purposes, the Wismar–Zurow cycling route and the bridle paths in Klein Warin can be considered different activity options.

The attractions are located in various named places within the municipality, while the Wismar–Zurow route describes a specific connection for a day of cycling. This makes it possible to match your accommodation search with the kinds of places and experiences that interest you during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Züsow, Bibow, Warin, Jesendorf, Passee, Lübberstorf, Glasin.

For the parent travel overview: Amt Neukloster-Warin.