Mönchgut Peninsula
The island of Rügen is divided into various regions by its natural shape, numerous peninsulas and inland waters, some of which differ considerably in their natural character. One of these peninsulas, the southeastern tip of the island of Rügen, is the Mönchgut Peninsula. Its name comes from its first settlers and owners, the monks of Eldena Abbey near Greifswald, which, despite being more than 20 kilometres away, can be seen from Mönchgut on a clear day.
Strand von Thiessow
Photo: © Kurverwaltung Thiessow
Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve
The southern part in particular, often referred to as Mönchgut proper, has numerous natural features. Like tongues of land, the three peninsulas of Reddevitzer Höft, Groß Zicker and Klein Zicker extend into the sea, with the former fishing villages of Thiessow, Gager, Groß Zicker and Klein Zicker along their shores. One of Rügen’s most beautiful beaches stretches from the seaside resort of Göhren via Lobbe to the seaside resort of Thiessow. It gives way to the cliff-lined coasts at Thiessow and Klein Zicker, from whose heights the view extends far across the coastal waters. The Mönchgut Peninsula is part of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve. Within this small area, almost every type of landscape and coastline found on Rügen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can be seen. These include not only sandy beaches, but also reed beds, peninsulas, narrow waterways, beech forests and nutrient-poor grasslands. The traditional costumes firmly rooted here are also worthy of protection for a special reason: they are among the best preserved in all of Germany.
Unique natural conditions can be found on Zickersches Höft, which rises up to 66 metres between Gager and Groß Zicker and is also known as the Zickersche Alps. This hilly area of dry grassland slopes north and west towards a cliff-lined coast with a sandy beach below. From here, the view reaches as far as Stralsund, Greifswald and the island of Usedom. The fishing harbours in Gager and on the inner coast at Thiessow also offer berths for visiting pleasure boats, and there is a campsite near Gager harbour. A visit to the Mönchgut Peninsula is one of the most surprising and unforgettable experiences of a holiday on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen.
