Discover Kassow: History and the Warnow

On the eastern bank of the Warnow, near Werle, a district of Kassow, a memorial commemorates the former Werle Castle. A large erratic boulder bears the inscription “Werle Castle” and has marked this historically significant site since 1856. The castle was built around the year 600 and served as the regional main castle of the princes of the Slavic Obotrite tribe. In Kassow, then, the commemoration of a specific place meets a history reaching back to the early days of the Obotrites.

Werle Castle and its history

Another important date is 1160: the Slavic prince Niklot died during the siege of Werle Castle by Henry the Lion and the Danish king Valdemar I. Together with its construction around the year 600, this event provides two points of reference in the castle’s history. The erratic boulder at the memorial has visibly continued the connection to the former castle since 1856.

Those interested in historical sites can consider different chapters of the same history side by side: the early construction of the castle, the siege in the 12th century, and the later commemoration of the site. The former Werle Castle is a former castle complex near Werle, a district of Kassow, and close to the Warnow.

The Warnow, paddling and water engineering

The Warnow is also a point of reference in Kassow. At Kassow, the river can be crossed in the direction of Kambs. Before the bridge near Kassow, heading towards Kambs, there is a launching spot for canoes on the left, as well as an idyllic rest area in nature. Paddling and taking a break outdoors are two different ways to enjoy the Warnow.

The crossing near Kassow is particularly noteworthy: it crosses a canal, not the natural course of the Warnow. Belgian prisoners of war built the canal between 1915 and 1917. The distinction between river and canal also adds a historical dimension to finding your way around the landscape.

Tours and paths to the castle

For a cycling loop with several stops, the approximately 23-kilometre Tour 4 runs from Schwaan through Vorbeck, Kambs, Kassow, Neu Kassow and Werle, as well as Mistorf, Rukieten and Göldenitz, before returning to Schwaan. Kassow is therefore on a route connecting several named places and returning to its starting point in Schwaan.

Those wishing to walk specifically to the former Werle Castle will find directions in Werle: just before the railway crossing, there is a small gravel parking area on the right, from where you can walk to the castle. Immediately before the railway crossing near Kassow, a mostly easily navigable gravel path also leads to Werle Castle. A tour with several stops and local directions to a single historical destination are two different ways to explore the area.

More experiences in the wider Rostock destination

The wider Rostock destination offers other distinct experiences. At the Volhynian Resettlers Museum in Linstow, guided tours use ethnographic objects, photographs and documents to tell the story of the Volhynian Germans—from the mid-19th century to their settlement in Mecklenburg after the Second World War. With its deeply incised breakthrough valleys along the Warnow, numerous lakes, picturesque hills and extensive forests, Sternberg Lake District Nature Park is especially suited to hiking and cycling. Another attraction is the historic Molli narrow-gauge railway, which runs between Kühlungsborn and Bad Doberan and is the oldest narrow-gauge railway on the Baltic coast. The museum, landscape and railway each offer a different focus.

Choose accommodation based on your travel interests

If the history of Werle Castle, the Warnow and Tour 4 shape your travel plans, consider Kassow as your preferred place to stay. If the museum, nature park or Molli is your main focus, search for accommodation near the destination in question.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wiendorf, Vorbeck, Rukieten, Benitz, Bröbberow.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Amt Schwaan.