Utzedel: Churches, Mills and History

Churches in Utzedel and Roidin

The village church in Utzedel is an Early Gothic ashlar granite building that has remained largely unchanged. This historic building is complemented by a much later artistic addition: Two new east windows by Rostock artist Lothar Mannewitz were dedicated on October 31, 1965. The left window depicts a scene of the birth of Christ, while the right depicts a scene of the Resurrection of Christ. In the same church, you can therefore encounter both an Early Gothic architectural style and a design from 1965.

The church in Roidin has a different character: It is a Neo-Gothic fieldstone building with distinctive brick detailing. The altar depicts the adoration of the Christ Child in the manger; members of the von Maltzahn family can be seen in the background. Together with the church in Utzedel, Roidin offers another perspective on the municipality’s sacred architecture and furnishings. Both churches can be visited by prior arrangement with the parish office. Keep this in mind if you would like to see the interiors.

Mills and Historic Sites

The Roidin watermill is a domestic mill built around 1805. Its working and residential sections are timber-framed and stand on a fieldstone base. The interior was substantially altered later, but transmission shafts and gears have survived in the cellar and milling floor. A set of millstones lies in the garden. These details give the mill its own technological-historical character: Alongside its exterior construction, parts of its former milling operation are also preserved.

Leistenow has two more historic points of interest: The chapel has a 17th-century altar, and the site of a watermill that has survived in its original state has been located there since 1698. It lies about 600 metres outside the village, along an old avenue with typical cobblestone paving in a natural setting. Unlike the domestic mill in Roidin, the historic mill site itself is the main point of interest here. Its approximate distance and location outside the village can help you orient yourself.

There is another connection to the past on Carolinenberg near Utzedel: A Slavic hillfort is located there. Together with the churches and mills, it broadens the focus beyond individual buildings to include traces of history throughout the municipality. If you are interested in different periods and forms, you can explore these topics separately without combining them into a single complex or route.

Landscape and Orientation

The landscape includes waterways with clearly defined locations: The Augraben flows through the western part of the Utzedel municipal area, while the Tollense lies north of the municipal area. Roidin is situated on the edge of the Tollense lowlands. These local and landscape features offer an additional perspective alongside the cultural and historical attractions: As you explore Utzedel, you can also notice how each place relates to its surroundings.

For more information about nearby places, you can also choose Siedenbrünzow, Hohenbollentin, Meesiger, Beggerow, Kentzlin, Sarow, Kletzin and Warrenzin.

For the wider travel overview: Amt Demmin-Land.