Garz: Lagoon, Church and Golm

On the northern shore of the Szczecin Lagoon, landscape, remembrance and hiking come together in Garz. The village lies in Usedom’s eastern hinterland, right beside the small lagoon, in Usedom Nature Park and directly on the Polish border. The church, the memorial site on Golm and the Golm hike each offer a different focus: you can shape your stay around history, landscape and outdoor activity.

Lagoon shore, small lagoon and Golm

Garz’s location gives it a distinct geographical character: the lagoon lies north of the village, with the small lagoon right beside it. Set in the heart of Usedom Nature Park and directly on the Polish border, Garz is part of the island’s eastern hinterland. Golm also shapes the surrounding landscape: at 69 metres, it is the highest elevation on Usedom. These different landscape features come together without the village losing its own distinctive focus.

A church with distinctive features

The church in Garz is dedicated to Mary Magdalene and dates in part to the 13th century. It has no tower—a striking architectural feature that sets it apart from many churches. The church also contains votive ships. Together with its long history, these features give the village a cultural dimension that is clearly distinct from the remembrance site on Golm.

Golm as a memorial site

The German military cemetery “Auf dem Golm” is in Garz on Usedom, directly on the Polish border. It is the largest war cemetery complex in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. A military cemetery was established on Golm in 1944; by the end of the Second World War, more than 250 members of the navy and at least 1,000 members of the army and air force had been buried there.

The exhibition focuses on Golm as a war cemetery and memorial site for the thousands of victims of the 1945 bombing of Swinemünde. A permanent exhibition has been housed in the information building since 2001. A visit to Golm therefore brings together the history of the cemetery and remembrance of the bombing’s victims. Those interested in Usedom’s history will find a clearly defined focus for their trip here.

The Golm hike: a circular route with elevation changes

The Golm hike starts at the church in Garz, passes through Kamminke and Golm, and then returns to Garz. It connects the village with the memorial site and can be included in your stay as a specific hiking option. The route is marked with signs and a green dot. It is hilly, with a steep ascent and descent at Golm—a key difference from a visit focused mainly on the church and exhibition.

The route description lists driving as a way to get there and notes that parking is available in Garz. If you’re planning the hike, you can check the trail markers and parking situation again before setting out. This keeps the route and terrain in mind as you plan your hiking day.

Culinary highlights on the Szczecin Lagoon

Food is also part of planning your trip: restaurants around the Szczecin Lagoon serve freshly caught fish and traditional home-style dishes. This culinary connection extends across the wider lagoon area and adds a regional perspective to the culture and hiking themes.

Garz as a place to search for your stay

If you’re looking for accommodation, first consider whether the church, Golm and the Golm hike will be the main focus of your trip. If so, you can focus your search on Garz: the circular route starts at the church and returns to Garz after passing through Kamminke and Golm. If you’d also like to explore the lagoon area’s food alongside its memorial sites and hiking, you can include this wider regional connection in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Koserow, Kamminke, Dargen, Stolpe on Usedom, Ückeritz, Zempin, Loddin, Benz on Usedom.

For the overview of the wider area: Amt Usedom-Süd.