Kyritz

City history among churches, monasteries and the market square

St. Mary’s Church stands out with its impressive twin-tower façade. The opening hours given for a visit are specific: the church is open Monday to Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. St. John’s Franciscan Monastery was founded in the second half of the 13th century. Its restored north wall and monastery wall provide a backdrop for open-air events. The church and monastery gardens are also open to visitors.

The long, rectangular market square is home to the castle-like town hall. One of the oldest Bibles, dating from the 15th century, is kept inside. Since 2007, the Bassewitz Fountain on the square has told stories about the town and its history; the fountain by Jan Witte-Kropius was inspired by the Bassewitz legend. Those interested in the town’s development can also find insights into Kyritz’s history at the local history room in the building at Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Straße 6. Exhibitions by the Kyritz Local History Association can also be visited.

Numerous half-timbered houses are part of the townscape, most of them dating from the 19th century. Together with the church, monastery and market square, they offer a range of starting points for a culture-focused stay: architecture, a historic Bible, stories about the town and insights into local history each cater to different interests.

The Kyritz chain of lakes and what it offers

Kyritz is located in the “Kyritz Chain of Lakes” landscape conservation area. This glacial meltwater channel, approximately 20 km long, stretches from Bork-Lellichow to Wusterhausen and is a large recreation area for anglers, campers, cyclists, hikers and water sports enthusiasts. These activities offer different ways to shape your time by the water. Motorboats with combustion engines are not permitted on the Kyritz chain of lakes.

There is also a natural hiking trail for exploring Untersee, running along the shore all the way around the lake. From May to September, a ferry runs from the Kyritz shore via Untersee Island to Bantikow. If you would like to focus your stay on experiences on the water and in nature, the chain of lakes, the lakeside trail and the seasonal ferry service are useful points of reference when planning your days.

A longer circuit or a day of cultural sightseeing

The circular trail around Untersee is 19 km long and is listed as taking six hours. The start and finish are at Kyritz lido; there is another start and finish point at Uferweg 1 in Wusterhausen/Dosse. The distance and stated duration are useful when deciding whether a longer circuit fits into your travel plans. For families planning together, this makes it easy to distinguish a stay focused on a full day of hiking from a visit to Kyritz’s churches, market square or exhibitions.

The monastery setting, half-timbered houses and local history room offer a different focus from activities around the chain of lakes. You can therefore start by deciding whether you would like to set aside more time for city history, nature or activity by the water.

Discover more places

If you would also like to explore other places: Zernitz-Lohm, Rheinsberg, Märkisch Linden, Rüthnick, Breddin, Vielitzsee, Storbeck-Frankendorf, Berlinchen.

For the regional travel overview: Ostprignitz-Ruppin.