Klausdorf: Bodden, Nature and Estate History

Klausdorf brings together Bodden beaches, nature experiences and a multifaceted estate history. Cranes, white-tailed eagles and many other animals make the town a popular destination for nature lovers. On 5 February 2018, Klausdorf was officially designated a state-recognized resort. When planning your visit, you can focus on different interests: activities on land and water sit alongside the historic estate complex.

Nature and activities on the Bodden

In Klausdorf, you can cycle through fields and forests, hike in nature and paddle on the Bodden. Each activity offers a different focus: cycling takes you through fields and woodland, hiking puts nature centre stage, and paddling brings you onto the water. This makes it easy to spend time outdoors in a way that suits your interests, without every activity needing to be the same kind of experience. The beaches directly on the Bodden add to the appeal of the landscape. Together with the local wildlife, they give nature lovers several specific reasons to get to know Klausdorf better.

The estate complex, park and Vorpommernhus

The surviving parts of the historic Klausdorf estate complex include the former inspector’s house, three farm buildings, the orangery and the park with its wall and observation tower. The estate park is a listed monument. The inspector’s house at the Klausdorf estate is a Neo-Baroque building dating from around 1890, adding a distinctive architectural feature to the complex.

A former large bull barn underwent extensive renovation in 2006 and was converted into the Vorpommernhus. The building houses a small gallery and the visitor and tourist information centre, hosts cultural events and serves as a community hall. Alongside the historic buildings, it is a place with several cultural and community uses. The former observation tower in the listed estate park was restored in 2012 and converted into the Klausdorf Species Conservation Tower.

Another feature of the park is the reconstructed espalier fruit garden. It comprises four beds, each about 70 metres long, and is home to old and fine varieties of fruit trees and shrubs. These include berries, bush fruit, pome fruit and wall-trained fruit varieties. The combination of the inspector’s house, farm buildings, park and fruit beds makes the estate complex a distinctive cultural attraction alongside the nature activities.

Barhöft: exhibition, cliff and views

There are other places to visit within the municipality of Klausdorf, too: Barhöft is home to the national park exhibition in the Haus am Kliff. Using photographs, drawings and illustrative displays, it presents the protected landscape in an engaging way for adults and international visitors as well. The exhibition is close to the harbour, at the top of the Barhöft cliff, next to the observation tower visible from afar. From the harbour, follow the signs towards the cliff.

The 17-metre-high observation tower next to the exhibition offers views across large parts of the national park, as well as over the islands, windflats, Bodden and Baltic Sea. A smaller viewing platform at the Zarrenzin car park looks out towards the Werder Islands and the Bodden waters. The path along the Barhöft cliff starts at the car park in Zarrenzin and follows the old cliff to Barhöft. The two viewpoints offer different perspectives: a broad panorama from the tower and views of the Werder Islands and Bodden waters from the smaller platform.

The national park exhibition is accessible to wheelchair users, and disabled parking spaces are available at the building. If accessibility is essential for your visit, check the latest visitor information before you travel. All berths at Barhöft harbour have electricity and drinking water. Kayak trips to Hiddensee and fishing in waters rich in fish are also listed as activities in Barhöft.

Discover more destinations

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

Return to the main travel overview: Amt Altenpleen.