Altenkirchen: Coast, Church and Kosegarten

Altenkirchen combines questions about its coastal location with a clear focus on cultural history. The beach information relates to the coastal area of the municipality of Altenkirchen; the parish church, churchyard and Kosegarten House reflect the area’s local history. When looking for a hotel, this distinction can help you organise your travel interests: would you like your stay to include the named stretches of beach above all, or would you like to learn about the poet and pastor Gotthard Ludwig Theobul Kosegarten?

Beaches and active days

The coastal area of the municipality of Altenkirchen includes the North Beach behind Schwarbe on the Baltic Sea. Another beach is in Drewoldke on the Tromper Wiek. The place names clearly distinguish between the two coastal areas: North Beach behind Schwarbe on the Baltic Sea, or the beach in Drewoldke on the Tromper Wiek. The stretches of beach around Altenkirchen slope gently, and the named beach areas are unspoilt. If you would like to focus on a particular stretch of coast, you can take Schwarbe and Drewoldke into account when choosing where to stay.

In Drewoldke, a kitesurfing school at the campsite helps beginners get started. Its availability may vary by season. Ask in advance about the current offer if you plan to go kitesurfing.

Kosegarten and the parish church

Since 2014, the multimedia Kosegarten exhibition in Kosegarten House and the churchyard has provided information about the poet and pastor Gotthard Ludwig Theobul Kosegarten (1758–1818). His grave is at the southwest corner of Altenkirchen Parish Church. Kosegarten served there as pastor from 1792 to 1808 and, as a poet around 1800, helped make the beauty of Rügen Island known beyond Germany’s borders.

The altar and lectern angel in Altenkirchen Parish Church come from the workshop of Elias Keßler. The church also has a neo-Baroque organ made by the Böhm company in 1971. The so-called Svantevit Stone is also located in the parish church. Kosegarten’s story is thus joined by other distinctive features of the church: the attribution of the altar and lectern angel to a particular workshop, a dated instrument and the named stone.

Altenkirchen in the wider destination of Vorpommern-Rügen

The wider destination of Vorpommern-Rügen also includes landscapes beyond Altenkirchen. The district includes Rügen Island and the offshore islands of Hiddensee and Ummanz, as well as the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula chain. The district therefore offers a broader point of reference for travellers weighing up different coastal and island areas within a single holiday. Cultural points of interest include the old town of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Towns of Stralsund and Wismar”. For nature lovers, the beech forests in Jasmund National Park on Rügen are another regional point of interest; they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”. There are an estimated 60 museums in the district.

The guest card may also be relevant to your travel plans: guests with a guest card issued by their accommodation provider through the AVS system can use VVR services on the Wittow and Jasmund peninsulas free of charge. As guest card rules may change, check the applicable terms before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Breege, Wiek on Rügen, Sagard, Dranske, Putgarten, Glowe, Lohme.

Go to the main travel overview: Amt Nord-Rügen.