Zarrentin am Schaalsee: Moor, Lake and Monastery

Zarrentin am Schaalsee lies in the Schaalsee UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Nature and local history shape a stay in different ways: a circular trail through a protected calcareous fen starts just behind the PAHLHUUS, while the former Cistercian convent tells the story of the town. For your planning, trails of varying lengths are complemented by information and cultural offerings.

Experience nature and compare hiking trails

The PAHLHUUS at Wittenburger Chaussee 13 is the central information centre for the Schaalsee UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The modern, accessible building features an exhibition on the region’s unique natural environment and offers additional tourist information. It is a useful starting point for getting to know the landscape of the protected area.

The approximately 1.2-kilometre Moorerlebnispfad starts directly behind the PAHLHUUS. This circular walking trail passes through a protected calcareous fen; its compact distance makes it an alternative to the longer routes around Zarrentin. The Kirchensee circular trail is an easy hike of about three kilometres starting in Zarrentin, with beautiful views of Lake Schaalsee and Lake Kirchensee. If you are looking for a longer loop, the eight-kilometre Klosterroute offers a scenic circular hiking trail with the notable flora and fauna of the biosphere reserve, as well as historic remains of the former 13th-century Cistercian convent. The different distances help you tailor your hiking plans to the length you have in mind.

Monastery history in town

Zarrentin Monastery is a former Cistercian convent called “Himmelspforte” (Heaven’s Gate), on the southern shore of Lake Schaalsee. Guided tours of the town and former monastery are offered year-round. Confirm the tour offering with the provider before booking. The local history museum also connects the town’s history with a specific place: it was founded in 1988 and has been housed in the current Klosterscheune at Kirchplatz since 2000.

The lake and getting around locally

A boat trip on Lake Schaalsee passes islands and peninsulas, the Zarrentin promenade and the former inner-German border. Check the provider’s schedule when planning your trip. Zarrentin’s lido is about 500 metres from the PAHLHUUS, at Wittenburger Chaussee 98. Bikes can be rented at the PAHLHUUS during opening hours; check in advance whether rentals will be available during your visit.

The PAHLHUUS can be reached via the A 24, B 195 and L 04, as well as by buses operated by Verkehrsgesellschaft Ludwigslust-Parchim mbH. Check current connections before travelling. The routes and destinations described offer a range of options, without any one activity needing to define your stay.

More culture in the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim destination

Other places in the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim destination also have a cultural and historical focus. Ludwigslust Palace was the former residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg. Together with its park and town, it forms an ensemble described as the “Versailles of the North”. The palace is also at the heart of an almost entirely preserved late Baroque town layout, with a former court church and an English-style landscape park. The Dömitz Citadel offers a different architectural perspective: a Renaissance fortress built on the Italian model, in the shape of a pentagon with bastions, casemates and a drawbridge. This allows Zarrentin’s natural and monastic history to be considered alongside other historical themes in the region, without equating the different places.

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Back to the wider travel overview: Amt Zarrentin.