Discover Ritzerow: Village Church and Local History

Village Church and History in Ritzerow

Ritzerow was first mentioned in a document in 1256; by 1276, the later ducal-domain church village already had a parish. As a former farming village, Ritzerow has a green-like open space where the village church stands. This layout and the church belong together: the church’s location defines the village’s historic center, though this does not mean there is a separate visitor facility.

The village church was rebuilt in the 1860s, and its tower was completed in 1884. This allows two stages of its building history to be distinguished: the reconstruction of the church building and the later completion of the tower. Ritzerow Church is one of the churches and chapels of the Evangelical Lutheran Johannes Parish of Penzlin-Stavenhagen. For travelers interested in architecture and local history, the site combines a distinctive village layout with a clear historical chronology.

Galenbeck: Manor History and Nature

Galenbeck, a district of the municipality of Ritzerow, is a small former manor village. Of the originally symmetrically laid-out manor complex, only the former manor house and two other residential buildings remain. The Galenbeck Soap Box is also connected to this history: it is housed in a coachman’s house dating from 1890 on the former van der Lancken manor estate. Galenbeck Chapel is also one of the churches and chapels of the Evangelical Lutheran Johannes Parish of Penzlin-Stavenhagen.

Body creams and body oils from the “MeBa COSMETIC” cosmetics line are made at the Galenbeck Soap Box, which also serves as the factory outlet for the Galenbeck soap manufactory. Products to discover include traditionally boiled soaps and aromatherapy products such as bath salts, shower bombs, smelling salts, soy wax candles, and incense. The Soap Box is located by the village pond in Galenbeck, between Rosenow and Ritzerow. Opening hours are listed as Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Please check before traveling whether visits are currently possible at these times.

Galenbeck, on Lake Galenbeck, attracts many visitors every year for hiking, walking, and cycling. In front of the village are the nature reserve on Lake Galenbeck and the “Brohmer Berge” landscape conservation area. A nature trail also leads from Galenbeck to an observation stand with a good view of the lake. These are separate destinations within the municipality and offer a different focus from Ritzerow’s village church and local history.

Mecklenburg Lake District: A Wider Natural Setting

For a broader nature-focused trip, the Mecklenburg Lake District is a regional destination in its own right. Müritz National Park is characterized by forests, marshes, lakes, and wide meadows. Its hiking trail covers a range of landscapes and features over nine stages: it follows lakeshores, passes through ancient forests and inland dunes, and reaches the source of the Havel. Certified nature and landscape guides offer educational tours there, including tours of the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest at Serrahn and trips from the water.

Another nature attraction in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Damerower Werder bison reserve. It is located on a peninsula in Lake Kölpin and in Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heath Nature Park; visitors can observe bison there. The reserve also has a forest adventure trail with climbing activities, an ant house, an exhibition with tactile and visual information panels, and a dendrophone. The Mecklenburg Lake District thus offers both longer hiking stages and guided tours, as well as wildlife observation and nature activities.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Stavenhagen, Grammentin, Briggow, Bredenfelde, Ivenack, Knorrendorf, Kittendorf and Rosenow.

Back to the regional travel overview: Amt Stavenhagen.