Discover Wittenburg: Old Town, Mill and Ski Hall

Old Town and St. Bartholomew’s Church

Wittenburg has a typically Mecklenburg Old Town with a lovingly restored medieval town centre. On the edge of the market square stands St. Bartholomew’s Church, a Romanesque brick church whose construction began around 1240. Its exterior features numerous Romanesque decorative details, including corner pilaster strips and rounded-arch eaves friezes. The floor plan can also be described in terms of specific architectural elements: the three-aisled, three-bay nave is joined by a two-bay rectangular choir.

The history of the tower’s construction differs from that of the church. After the original tower was destroyed by a fire in the 17th century, it was rebuilt in 1908 in the Gothic Revival style. At 64 metres tall, it is considered a landmark of Wittenburg. On the west gallery is an organ built around 1848 by Friedrich Wilhelm Winzer. The church therefore offers several points of interest: while exploring the town, you can look for Romanesque details on the exterior, admire the later tower design or consider the organ as part of the church’s furnishings.

Wittenburg Mill and Museum

The history of milling can also be traced through a specific building. The Dutch-style smock windmill was moved from Schwerin to Wittenburg in 1890. The town’s Mill Museum opened in 1979, with the restored Wittenburg Mill as its first museum exhibit. Those interested in local and technical history can explore the mill and its role as the museum’s first exhibit. Its move from Schwerin to Wittenburg is itself part of the mill’s history.

Indoor skiing and walks

The ski hall at the alpincenter Hamburg-Wittenburg offers a different kind of stay. Its main slope is 330 metres long and 40 metres wide. Beginners and children can use a practice slope measuring 90 metres long and 40 metres wide, with a gradient of 10 per cent. The hall also offers indoor slopes with snow conditions at a temperature of just −1 °C. If you would rather plan your trip around winter sports than historic buildings, the ski hall offers a distinct focus.

The town ramparts are an option for a walk and are suitable in every season. This makes an outdoor stroll another possible activity alongside the Old Town, church, mill and indoor skiing. These different options do not have to be combined into a single route: you can prioritise each interest independently.

Getting around Wittenburg

Verkehrsgesellschaft Ludwigslust-Parchim mbH (VLP) serves the town with several bus routes and an on-demand bus service. When choosing a hotel, you can first decide which part of the town matters most for your stay: the medieval town centre and its architectural history, the history of milling, walks along the ramparts or the indoor ski hall.

If you would like to visit nearby places, you can also explore Körchow, Wittendörp and Lehsen.

For the wider travel overview: Amt Wittenburg.