Zapel: Ancient Oak, Cycling Route and History

Zapel can be explored through several specific themes: a protected 1,000-year-old oak, a cycling and hiking loop through the village, and historic memorial sites. The Historic Forestry Courtyard in Zapel is now a guesthouse. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether natural heritage, cycling, or the village’s history will shape your stay.

The Oak and Cycling Route as Points of Reference

A protected 1,000-year-old oak stands in Zapel. The official description of the cycling tour invites visitors to explore Zapel and its legendary oak. The ancient tree is a specific destination for anyone interested in natural monuments and keen to explore the village by bicycle. The map of the “Around Crivitz” cycling and hiking route shows the loop passing through Zapel. Check the current route before setting out.

The Historic Forestry Courtyard in Zapel is also marked as a point of reference on this map. At the same time, the Forestry Courtyard is now a guesthouse. The route and the guesthouse therefore offer two different ways to plan a stay in Zapel: the map provides a reference for exploring the surrounding area, while the Forestry Courtyard is relevant as accommodation.

Local History and Remembrance

A cultural insight with a clearly defined date is the small exhibition held at the village and community hall in September 2024, showcasing works by regional artists.

A more serious historical connection is the route taken by prisoners on the death march from Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Zapel is one of the places where signs marking this route were erected in 1976. This part of the village’s history is clearly distinct from the nature and cycling themes, adding another historically focused element to trip planning.

The region around Crivitz also has a local connection to tourism development: in December 2017, volunteers from Zapel joined forces with people from Demen, Barnin, Bülow, Friedrichsruhe, Tramm, and the town of Crivitz. Their aim at the time was to make the region more attractive to tourists and better known. Separately, the “In the Footsteps of the Trees of the Year” cycling and hiking trail was improved in 2017 and added to the interactive map of the Ludwigslust-Parchim district’s geodata portal. Check that the map is currently working if you plan to use it.

More to Explore in the Wider Ludwigslust-Parchim Destination

Beyond Zapel, the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim destination offers other distinct highlights. Ludwigslust Palace was the former residence of the Mecklenburg dukes. Together with its park and town, it forms an ensemble known as the “Little Versailles of the North.” The palace is the centerpiece of an almost completely preserved late Baroque town layout, with a former court church and an English-style landscaped park. The palace presents art and courtly domestic culture from the 18th and early 19th centuries.

In Dömitz, the museum in the fortress focuses on the history of the fortress and town. Other topics include the history of the Elbe, harbor, and bridges, Fritz Reuter, and special and art exhibitions, whose program may change. Dömitz Citadel is a Renaissance fortress designed on the Italian model: its pentagonal layout is complemented by bastions, casemates, and a drawbridge. Its architecture and museum offer a different focus from Zapel’s oak and cycling route.

In Zarrentin, nature and monastic history come together. The calcareous fen near Zarrentin is part of the Schaalelauf Nature Reserve and can be explored from the nature discovery trail. The ground floor of Zarrentin Monastery houses a permanent exhibition about the monastery; guided tours cover the history of the former Cistercian convent, the nuns’ lives, and the building’s architecture. Check the latest information about tours and access before visiting.

The other nature and cultural attractions in the wider destination also vary according to your interests: the Lewitz, the Sternberg Lake District, and the UNESCO Schaalsee Biosphere Reserve are among the protected landscapes in Ludwigslust-Parchim district. Water sports take place on the Müritz-Elde Waterway within the district; Dömitz also has a harbor with moorings for recreational watercraft, and passenger boats operated by the Heckert shipping company run from there. Check schedules and current operating information before your trip.

If the oak, cycling route, and local history are your main interests, you can choose Zapel as your search destination. If you also want your trip to include palaces, fortress and monastery history, or natural areas, add these distinct destinations to your plans and tailor your search accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Barnin, Tramm, Crivitz, Friedrichsruhe, Demen, Bülow

Go to the wider travel overview: Amt Crivitz.