Groß Dratow: Village Church, Former Blacksmith’s Shop and Routes

Village Church: Architecture and Dated Details

At its core, the village church in Groß Dratow is a rectangular fieldstone building dating from the 13th century. Its interior features a matching wooden furnishings scheme from 1908. The building and its interior therefore represent two distinct periods: a medieval core and a unified set of furnishings from the early 20th century. The west gallery houses an organ by Friedrich Hermann Lütkemüller, dating from 1863. Only one of the original three bells remains in the tower; Hans Voss cast it in Lüneburg in 1680. Anyone interested in architectural and church history will find several details here that can be dated, from the fieldstone building to the organ and surviving bell. The dates also make clear that the furnishings, organ and bell belong to different periods.

Former Blacksmith’s Shop: Craftsmanship and Adaptive Reuse

Another perspective on local history can be found at the former village blacksmith’s shop. The brick building was constructed around 1860; the blacksmith’s shop was later converted and expanded into a restaurant. Alongside the village church, this is a building with a different architectural style and a history of changing use. Its transition from a former craft workshop to a restaurant adds an example of adaptive reuse to the story of the town. The church and blacksmith’s shop thus offer different points of interest: the architecture and furnishings of a religious building in one case, and a former village craft building in the other.

Cycling and Horse Riding on Different Routes

For active days, start by considering what kind of activity you are looking for. The Berlin–Copenhagen Cycle Route passes through Groß Dratow and then continues to Kargow. If you are travelling along this long-distance route, you can include Groß Dratow as a section of your journey. Check the route conditions before setting off.

The Klockow Loop adds a horse-riding route. It runs through Groß Dratow and Klockow and is about 18 kilometres long. This gives you two different types of route to consider: a long-distance cycling route that continues to Kargow, and a horse-riding route with an approximate distance. If you are planning your trip around a particular activity, this distinction can help with your plans. It is advisable to check the current availability of the Klockow Loop separately.

Hiking in the Wider Region

Hiking is also an option in the wider region around Groß Dratow. Müritz National Park has several hiking routes around Feisneck, Granziner See and Käbelicksee, as well as around the Havel source lakes Mühlensee and Bornsee. Starting points include Waren, Kratzeburg or Granzin, as well as Ankershagen. The hiking destinations are spread across several lakes and starting points. If you want to include nature and hiking in your trip, these lakes and starting points can help you plan activities in the wider area.

When choosing accommodation, a useful starting point is how you would like to spend your days: would you like to focus on the village church and former blacksmith’s shop, include a cycling or horse-riding route through Groß Dratow, or plan hiking destinations in the wider area?

Discover more destinations: Amt Demmin-Land, Neustrelitz, Amt Mecklenburgische Kleinseenplatte, Amt Stavenhagen, Waren / Müritz, Amt Neustrelitz-Land, Amt Neverin, Amt Treptower Tollensewinkel

To the overarching travel overview: Mecklenburg Lake District.