Discover Karlsburg

Karlsburg combines a short village walk with a multifaceted local history. Village ponds, typical single-storey homes and the western side of the palace park give the village several distinct points of interest. The early name Gnatzkow and the Baroque palace’s construction and history of use add further context. This lets you get to know Karlsburg not just through a single building, but also through its paths, village centre and park history.

Village Ponds, Village Centre and Walking Tour

A short walk through Karlsburg begins at the two village ponds, follows Nepziner Weg and Kirschenweg towards the forest, passes the “Nepziner Weg” residential estate and reaches the western side of the palace park. The route leads from the ponds through a named residential area to the edge of the park, making the village itself a travel theme alongside the palace. The historic centre includes typical single-storey homes, almost all of which have since been modernised. These homes add another perspective to the palace’s history for anyone exploring the village.

Traces of the Village and Palace History

An entry in the oldest Greifswald town register, dating from 1300, mentions a Johannes from Gnatzkow (“Jo de gnazkow”). The place, later renamed Karlsburg, is therefore considered to have been mentioned for the first time in that entry. The old place name and its later change create a direct link between the earliest record and the name used today.

The grand Baroque Palace of Karlsburg was built in 1773. It remained privately owned until 1945; after 1945, it was used as a diabetes clinic and laboratory building. Its construction, ownership and subsequent uses are distinct stages in its history.

Karlsburg Palace Park was laid out in the 19th century, modelled on English landscape gardens. The park is also home to an 18th-century marble sculpture of the goddess Flora. The landscape-garden concept and the mythological figure provide two different historical focal points.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Vorpommern-Greifswald

Beyond Karlsburg, the wider destination of Vorpommern-Greifswald offers nature and cycling experiences across the district. The three nature parks cover almost 40 percent of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district. The Ueckermünder Heide is ideal for hiking, cycling and horse riding. Regional cycling routes for exploring the district include the Stettiner Haff Circular Route and the Route of North German Romanticism. The Baltic Sea Cycle Route, part of EuroVelo Route EV10, also passes through the district. These experiences differ from the short village walk in Karlsburg: the focus here is on nature and cycling across the region. If you are planning a specific tour, it is worth checking the latest route information.

Cultural attractions are also spread across different places in the wider destination. The Pomeranian State Museum in Greifswald displays the Croy Tapestry from 1554, a unique cultural and historical artefact from the Reformation era. In Anklam, the Otto Lilienthal Museum is a technical museum dedicated to the person who pioneered aviation, mechanical engineering and humanism, Otto Lilienthal, who was born in the town. In Peenemünde, the Juliett U-461 is a museum ship in the harbour that visitors can explore on a tour. You can also book guided tours through the memorial landscape via the Historical-Technical Museum Peenemünde. Check the latest tour and guided-tour options for your preferred date.

Other activities offer a different focus: Ueckermünde Zoo is home to more than 1,120 native and exotic animals representing 95 species, with daily feeding demonstrations. Check the current feeding times before planning your visit. The first Slavic boat to be reconstructed in Germany is used for boat trips in Ukranenland Torgelow. Participants have to row themselves—an important difference from a trip where you simply ride along.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Schmatzin, Groß Kiesow, Wrangelsburg, Gützkow, Rubkow, Gribow, Bandelin, Murchin.

See the wider travel overview: Amt Züssow.