Parchim – City History and Nature at Lake Wockersee
Accommodation in Parchim
Parchim offers a range of ways to shape your stay: at Lake Wockersee, nature and activities on the water take centre stage, while the city’s museum, churches and historic buildings offer insights into the town’s history. You can focus your visit on walks, water-based activities or cultural discoveries.
Discover Lake Wockersee and Wockertal Valley
The 62-hectare Lake Wockersee lies on the northern edge of Parchim. It is ideal for hiking, swimming and boating. The Wockertal Valley nature conservation area borders the lake. If you enjoy walking, you can set off from Eichberg to walk around Lake Wockersee. The lake, the adjoining protected area and the various activities on the water offer different ways to enjoy the nature around Parchim during your trip.
The Eisvogel nature trail in Wockertal Valley runs alongside the Lower Voigtsdorfer Pond. The trail is about 1,100 metres long and has nine stations. Its length and stations give the walk a clearly defined theme. If you would like to experience the area from the water, there is a canoe rental station at Fischerdamm in Parchim. It is very easy to reach and offers a direct connection from the city to nature.
City History, from the Museum to Historic Buildings
The Parchim Museum, housed in the Kulturmühle, presents the city’s history from its beginnings to the present day across 900 m². The permanent exhibition offers an opportunity to explore different eras of the city in a single visit. Historic buildings provide further glimpses into the past: St. Mary’s Church is the oldest building in Parchim still standing today. A very well-preserved section of Parchim’s city wall can be seen on Am Wallhotel street.
Fangelturm Tower is another notable historic building. It was built in 1360 as part of a landwehr, or outer defensive line, to protect the city. Today, it is the only tower of its kind in Mecklenburg and is among the oldest buildings in the state. St. George’s Church is considered a church of regional significance because of its historical, architectural and art-historical importance. Those interested in different aspects of the city’s history can find points of interest ranging from medieval fortifications to church architecture.
Today, Parchim’s ramparts can be enjoyed as an urban park. Covering about 4.4 hectares, they complement the historic buildings with a green space in the city. You can combine different interests during your visit: the city wall and Fangelturm Tower as reminders of the city’s defensive history, churches of particular significance and the city’s history at the Kulturmühle.
Guided Tours and Events
During the summer months, the Heimatbund Parchim e.V. organises public general city tours on request; this service has been available since 1997. Public tours include general walks as well as themed tours on Parchim in the Middle Ages and the history of Parchim’s dragoons. This selection lets you tailor your city tour to a particular historical interest. Parchim’s Martinimarkt is a four-day fair featuring action, fun, entertainment and food.
Getting Here and Finding Your Way
You can reach Parchim by train via Ludwigslust or Schwerin: Deutsche Bahn trains take you to either town, where you can continue to Parchim with ODEG. From the station, it is about a ten-minute walk to the city centre. Alternatively, you can continue your journey by taxi or bus. This information can help you plan your arrival, whether you are visiting mainly for the city’s history, Lake Wockersee or both.
More places in the same parent area: Amt Neustadt-Glewe, Amt Ludwigslust-Land, Amt Goldberg-Mildenitz, Matzlow-Garwitz, Amt Plau Am See, Goldenstädt, Amt Ostufer Schweriner See, Boizenburg/Elbe.
Back to the parent travel overview: Ludwigslust-Parchim.
