Marnitz: Village Church, Castle Traces and Weather History

Marnitz combines architecture and the history of science with archaeological traces and nearby landscapes. The village church brings together architectural features from different periods, while the history of the weather station dates back to its founding in 1864. There is also a castle complex, paths to burial mounds and destinations in the Ruhner Berge. The area thus offers everything from local history to the region’s natural and cultural landscapes.

Village Church with Several Architectural Styles

The village church in Marnitz is an 18th-century half-timbered church. Its Neo-Gothic tower was built in 1913; a wooden passage connects the two sections. The interior also brings together different periods: it contains a Baroque altar and a Renaissance pulpit. The half-timbered structure, Neo-Gothic tower and older furnishings make the church a special destination for anyone interested in architecture and art history.

The church, an 18th-century place of worship, was restored in stages, with space made for a winter church and toilets.

Castle Complexes and Archaeological Traces

Construction of Marnitz Castle began during the final Slavic period, in the 10th or 11th century. Its main rampart rises 8 m above the low-lying terrain. The entire castle complex has been protected as a historic monument since 1930. Another notable term in the archaeological record is the so-called “Kleiner Ringwall” (Small Ring Rampart): it is considered a well-preserved archaeological monument and is over 1,100 years old.

South of Marnitz, in the Ruhner Wald, lies a former Slavic castle complex. Nearby, hikers can walk through the Marnitz beech woods and clearly make out the contours of the old castle moat and the ramparts of the Slavic castle in the landscape.

Marnitz is also a starting point for a well-developed route to burial mounds in the Mooster and its surroundings. On the road from Marnitz to Mooster, 400 m beyond the Siggelkow-Suckow crossroads, two fenced burial mounds lie in a small patch of woodland. The so-called Kleiner Ringwall and these burial mounds represent different archaeological topics; their specific details regarding age, preservation and location make each of them interesting in its own way.

Ruhner Berge and the View

The Ruhner Berge, a protected landscape area, lie south of Marnitz in the surrounding area. Ruhner Berg is 176 m high and the second-highest elevation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Near the Ruhner Berge, there is a nature trail as well as signposted cycling and hiking routes. So, alongside its historical attractions, the region offers opportunities to explore the landscape in different ways.

The Ruhner Turm is also nearby. Its viewing platform is 32.5 m above the ground and can be reached by climbing 180 steps. From the top, the view extends far across Mecklenburg and Brandenburg. The platform’s height and the number of steps give a clear idea of what the ascent involves; the expansive view offers a different focus from the walking and cycling routes in the surrounding area.

Mooster and Weather History

Further afield in the region lies the Mooster, an extensive, flat landscape of heath and moorland. It forms part of a reservoir basin that was created at the end of the Ice Age. The remnants of this basin include Sabelsee and Treptowsee. The landscape offers another perspective on the region, beyond the architectural and archaeological monuments in and near Marnitz.

The Marnitz weather station is also part of the town’s history. C. H. Tarnke, a teacher based in Marnitz at the time, founded it in 1864. It is one of the oldest weather stations in Mecklenburg. While the church and castle tell the story of architecture and settlement, the weather station represents the town’s history of science.

Consider which of these themes you would like to shape your discoveries most.

Discover More Destinations

Tessenow, Karbow-Vietlübbe, Granzin, Siggelkow, Werder, Lübz, Passow, Gischow

For the overview of the wider area: Amt Eldenburg Lübz.