Discover Sarnow: Village Church and Peene-South Canal

Sarnow combines an unusual church building with a canal, routes through the surrounding area and a regional driving tour. The village church tells a story of architectural history and community use; outdoors, the Peene-South Canal and a megalithic tomb provide clear landmarks. This gives you the option of focusing your stay mainly on Sarnow-related themes or including other destinations in the wider travel region of Vorpommern-Greifswald.

Sarnow Village Church: Church, Poorhouse and School

Sarnow Village Church was built in 1754 under Field Marshal Curd Christoph von Schwerin as a late Baroque church. What makes it special is the combination of its functions: the church, poorhouse and school are all under one roof. This combination is unique in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The architectural form is also worth a closer look: the building is an elongated, plastered rectangular structure made of bricks and individual fieldstones, with a recessed west tower and a gabled roof. Its period of construction, distinctive use and simple architectural description together give a clear picture of this building.

The Sarnow Church-Hospital-School Association holds events in the church three to four times a year. Along with donations, these events raise funds for the church’s ongoing preservation and renovation. If you would like to include an event in your plans, check the specific dates before your trip.

Routes, the Canal and a 100-kilometre Tour

The 27-kilometre-long Peene-South Canal runs from Stolpe via Sarnow to Kavelpass and the Landgraben. In Sarnow, it crosses the B 197. The road layout also offers a clear point of reference: the B 197 runs through Sarnow and is crossed there by the L 31. These are useful reference points when including different destinations or routes in your travel plans.

The 100-kilometre “Der Grafenwinkel” driving tour runs from Anklam along the B 197 to Sarnow, where it turns towards Spantekow; the tour starts and ends in Anklam. For practical planning, you can check the route and road conditions before setting off.

The surrounding area also appeals to visitors interested in trails and landscapes: there are cycling and walking routes around Sarnow, with poppies and cornflowers growing along their edges. In Forst Sarnow, at a crossroads 260 metres from the forest edge, there is a slightly disturbed megalithic tomb. This tomb also makes Forst Sarnow interesting to visitors interested in archaeological traces; check the route on site.

Other perspectives in the wider travel region of Vorpommern-Greifswald

The wider travel region of Vorpommern-Greifswald offers other distinct themes alongside Sarnow’s village and nature-related attractions. In Anklam, the Otto Lilienthal Museum is dedicated to aviation pioneer, mechanical engineer and humanist Otto Lilienthal; it is a technical museum about a notable individual in his hometown. In Greifswald, the Pomeranian State Museum displays the Croy Tapestry of 1554, a unique cultural and historical testament from the Reformation era. In Peenemünde harbour, the Juliett U-461 is housed as a museum and can be explored on a tour. Check the current access arrangements before visiting.

Another, quite different option in the wider travel region of Vorpommern-Greifswald is Ueckermünde Zoo. More than 1,120 native and exotic animals from 95 species live there; feeding demonstrations take place daily. As animal numbers and feeding times may change, check these details before visiting. If you would like to combine several of these interests, plan each destination to suit your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Neetzow, Rossin, Liepen, Ducherow, Medow, Stolpe an der Peene, Spantekow, Iven.

For the wider travel overview: Amt Anklam-Land.