Weitenhagen between Village Church and Forest

Weitenhagen brings together a long history of church life, traces of the former narrow-gauge railway and a large forest area. As a result, the character of the place is not defined by a single attraction: those interested in culture can find striking architectural details, while anyone looking to add some activity to their day can include hiking and jogging opportunities, as well as experiences in the forest, in their plans.

Village Church and History

The sexton’s house was built in 1795 and, together with Weitenhagen Church, is one of the village’s historic sights. The village church is first mentioned in 1280; since 1968, it has served as the spiritual heart of the House of Silence. This is where different historical periods meet.

The building’s history is especially clear in the village church’s brick portal: it dates from the 15th century and features a basket-handle archway and circular blind niches. Three crosses of St. Bridget in the churchyard are said to commemorate Bridget of Sweden. In Weitenhagen, the House of Silence welcomes visitors to the church and its grounds.

Narrow-Gauge Railway Embankment and Clay Pit

Today, the narrow-gauge railway embankment is a well-used hiking and jogging route linking Weitenhagen and Grubenhagen, passing the clay pit roughly halfway along. It runs through the municipality from the direction of Greifswald, via Klein Schönwalde and Weitenhagen, south of Potthagen and on to Grubenhagen.

The clay pit is a popular resting place on walks and hikes. To its northeast, the historic cart track can still be made out; clay was transported along it to the brickworks in Helmshagen. The landscape thus includes both a modern resting place and a visible trace of the former clay transport route.

Forest Paths and Seasonal Experiences

Potthäger Forest covers the southern part of the municipality. At over 1,000 hectares in total, it is a continuous forest area with bogs, meadows and a rich variety of flora and fauna. A network of hiking trails runs through the forest. Maps at the beginning of Guester Weg, at the crossroads between Pott and Weitenhagen, show the routes; check on site whether the maps are available.

In winter, the hills at Schwedenschanze, among beeches and spruces, are ideal for sledding. Schwedenschanze is a popular destination for forest explorers all year round; visitors can build dens and run around there. After the narrow-gauge railway began operating, many people from Greifswald used the train for trips to the municipality, walking past Schwedenschanze to Söllkensee.

Weitenhagen in the Wider Travel Destination

The wider travel destination of Vorpommern-Greifswald offers further perspectives: the district’s three nature parks cover almost 40 percent of its area. The Baltic Sea Coast Cycle Route leads into the Vorpommern-Greifswald region and is part of EuroVelo route EV10. For those interested in culture, the Pomeranian State Museum in Greifswald displays the Croy Tapestry from 1554, a unique cultural and historical artifact from the Reformation era. In Anklam, the Otto Lilienthal Museum is dedicated to the aviation pioneer, mechanical engineer and humanist Otto Lilienthal. At the regional level, visitors can choose between nature, cycling and culture as different areas of interest.

When choosing accommodation, it helps to consider whether church history and architectural details or hiking, jogging and the forest will play a bigger part in your stay. Use this focus to tailor your search to what you would like to experience locally.

Discover More Travel Destinations

Discover more travel destinations: Dersekow, Wackerow, Behrenhoff, Mesekenhagen, Levenhagen, Hinrichshagen, Diedrichshagen, Neuenkirchen.

For the overview of the wider travel destination: Amt Landhagen.