Biohotel in Region Schwerin

Organic vacation in Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Mecklenburg-Schwerin is today a landscape in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with the center in Schwerin, but until the 1930s it was an administrative area that emerged from princely rule. Today the organic region makes up a significant part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Mecklenburg-Schwerin includes the cities of Schwerin , Rostock , Wismar , Parchim and Güstrow . The northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with its state capital Schwerin lies between the Baltic Sea , Brandenburg in the south, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony in the west and Poland (West Pomeranian Voivodeship) in the east. Its largest city is Rostock. There are three national parks and eight nature parks as well as countless castles and other architectural gems. The country includes Germany's two largest islands , Rügen and Usedom . The Mecklenburg Lake District , the “Land of a Thousand Lakes”, is very well known.

Biosphere reserves and nature parks in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

The state is home to the Jasmund, Western Pomerania Lagoon and Müritz national parks, as well as the Schaalsee, Southeast Rügen and Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserves. The Jasmund National Park occupies a smaller area on the island of Rügen. At 3,000 hectares, it is Germany's smallest national park . Its beech forest, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, is remarkable. It can be reached north of Sassnitz. It includes the highest elevation on Rügen, the Piekberg (161 m), as well as the chalk cliffs . The most striking point is the Königsstuhl (118 m).

Around 300,000 people a year step onto the platform of the rock that protrudes from the coastline. The view over the sea and the neighboring coastline is unique. The Western Pomeranian lagoon landscape extends over 786 km² on the western Western Pomeranian Baltic Sea coast . It includes internal and external coastal waters. The Müritz National Park is 318 km² in size and is located in the south of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. It includes the Mecklenburg Lake District and partly the Feldberg Lake District. The cultural region of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in which the national park is located, has grown historically. To the west, the Müritz National Park borders the Mecklenburg-Schwerin region.

Active in nature

The nature in Mecklenburg-Schwerin is shaped by the Baltic Sea and large parts of the Mecklenburg Lake District . Activities in nature take place on the water (Baltic Sea or inland waters), by bike, on foot and often on horseback. The landscape is flat, but still varied and allows for fascinating animal observations . The combination of wide horizons behind the sea and the lake district has a calming effect on holidaymakers.

Cycling here is relatively easy due to the flat land, there are hardly any inclines. Many cycle paths lead directly along the coast. Hikers also love the routes along the coast, including beautiful paths directly on the cliffs at a height of 40 to 80 m above the sea. The lake district is also considered a paradise for hikers . Water sports enthusiasts can sail and surf on the lakes and on the Baltic Sea, and beautiful boat trips are also possible on the lakes. With a bit of luck, hikers can spot deer and eagles in the national parks. The hiking trails along the villages and the lively Baltic Sea resorts are also very worthwhile.

Excursion tips for families from the organic hotels

There are so many excursion destinations in Mecklenburg-Schwerin that two weeks of vacation in an organic hotel are not enough to explore even the majority of them. We can therefore only give a few examples:

• Kobrow Carriage Museum : Here you can marvel at over 200 carriages, sleighs and carts, including elegant mylords, wagonettes, coupes, landauers, phaetons, Victoria carriages and hunting wagons. The museum has its own cafe and is worth a full day trip. It is located in the Sternberger Seenland Nature Park, which also offers some opportunities for hiking. The exhibits in the carriage museum also include rare travel accessories, bridles, saddles, children's carriages as well as military and commercial vehicles up to the early 20th century, all of which were still horse-drawn carriages.
• Castle Museum in Plau am See : Children also like this museum; it shows the history of the landscape and its technology in Plau Castle. In Plau am See, Dr. Ernst Alban: He invented the high-pressure steam engine in the 19th century. It can be viewed – fully functional – as a 1:2 replica in the museum. The castle in which the museum is housed also has a very interesting history. It was built in 1449 and was part of a fortification that was razed after the Thirty Years' War.
• Schwerin Zoological Garden : The zoo is located in the middle of the Schwerin lakes and is designed very close to nature. The animals (135 species) have a lot of space in outdoor enclosures. The Schwerin Zoological Garden is currently being transformed into a species conservation zoo. In its center, Cuban flamingos, great white pelicans, wild moor ducks, kingfishers and tufted ducks live in a three-hectare pond. You can also see rhinos in the zoo.
• Lake Schwerin : This lake is a paradise for nature lovers because it is completely natural and is a European bird sanctuary designated by Natura 2000. Water sports enthusiasts will get their money's worth here, and anglers will also find many quiet spots. There are many cycling, riding and hiking trails around the lake.

As a special program, guided tours under the motto “ Nature and Culture ” are offered in Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They include shorter city tours and subsequent excursions into the surrounding nature, combined with a stop at a café or restaurant with regional organic cuisine . The tours can be booked in the organic hotels and at the tourist information office.