Pölchow: The History of a Circular Village and the Warnow Tour
Accommodation in Pölchow
Pölchow combines a village layout described as circular with a nature experience on the Warnow: the Warnow Tour from Schwaan to Rostock passes by the village. Whether you are interested in village history or considering a canoe trip, you will find different ways to plan your trip here.
Village History and Historic Buildings
The oldest surviving documented mention of the village, under the name “Polchowe,” dates from 1275. A war memorial for 1914/18, with a peace oak, stands on Alte Dorfstraße. The memorial is listed in the Rostock district register of historic monuments. It adds a distinctive feature to the village’s history.
Several buildings are also listed in this register. At Alte Dorfstraße 6 is a former semi-detached Büdner cottage, and at Alte Dorfstraße 14 is a former school building. Both entries also record the former function associated with each building. At Rostocker Straße 6 and 7 are houses with barns, both likewise listed in the Rostock district register of historic monuments. The different building types offer culturally curious visitors a variety of insights into the village, without having to be grouped together as a single attraction.
The Warnow Tour and Nature Experiences
The Warnow Tour runs from Schwaan to Rostock, passes through the “Unteres Warnowland” nature reserve, and goes by Pölchow. It also runs through the “Warnowtal mit kleinen Zuflüssen” Special Area of Conservation and the “Warnowtal, Sternberger Seen und untere Mildenitz” Special Protection Area. This makes the tour a nature-focused option for your trip, while each protected area retains its own name and designation.
From the water, you may spot white-tailed eagles, kingfishers, and woodpeckers along the tour; with a little luck, beavers may also appear. Wildlife watching is therefore a possible focus for visitors who want to experience the Warnow not only as a waterway but also for its wildlife. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed; beaver sightings in particular depend explicitly on luck.
Depending on their pace, canoeists reach the Mühlendamm in Rostock after about 4–5 hours. This approximate time refers to the Warnow Tour route as far as this destination.
Planning Your Choice of Location
Pölchow has an S-Bahn station at Bahnhofsweg 17b. For visitors who also want to take rail connections into account when choosing a destination, the station is a specific point of reference in the village. The Warnow Tour offers another way to explore the area: a water route from Schwaan to Rostock that passes by Pölchow. Village history, rail access, and nature on the Warnow are three distinct themes to weigh up when planning your trip.
If you would like to include other destinations in your search, you can also view the pages for Stäbelow, Lambrechtshagen, Ziesendorf, Kritzmow, Elmenhorst/Lichtenhagen, and Papendorf.
For the broader travel overview: Amt Warnow-West.
