Lindow (Mark): Monastery, Lakes and Literature

Monastery History and Town Church

The monastery church and the present-day Protestant town church tell different chapters of the town's history. The monastery church was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War and is now used as an open-air church for devotions and services. Its ruins stand on the peninsula in Lake Wutzsee alongside the ruins of the convent.

The Protestant town church was built from 1751 onwards by Georg Christoph Berger as a Baroque hall church and consecrated in 1755. It is home to the famous Sauer organ. The convent building's ruins, restored in 2011, are the landmark of the monastery and the town of Lindow. The old monastery grounds, with their ivy-covered park, have also been restored in recent years.

Access to the monastery grounds is free; the convent building ruins can be entered during the day from Easter to the end of October. Check before your visit whether these conditions are still in effect.

Lakes, Swimming Spots and Trails

At 438 hectares, Lake Gudelacksee is the largest of the three lakes near Lindow (Mark). Lindow has a public swimming area, and there are also swimming spots on the north and east shores of Lake Gudelacksee. As swimming facilities may operate seasonally, check the conditions in advance.

Lindow is in the heart of Stechlin Running Park, where signposted routes offer good conditions for runners. A trail by Lake Wutzsee passes through a nature reserve to the monastery grounds and the monastery ruins there. Alongside the running routes, you can also explore a route with a specific destination and a connection to the monastery's history.

Culture to Discover

The “Garden of the Book” near Lindow Monastery was created in 2019 as a Jewish-Christian-Muslim educational and display garden. Visitors can discover plant species mentioned in the Tanakh, the Bible and the Quran. By bringing together different religious traditions through plants, the garden offers a distinctive cultural way to experience the area.

Theodor Fontane also made a literary connection to Lindow Monastery: in his novel “Der Stechlin,” he used it as Wutz Monastery and dedicated a poem to it. The Lindower Summer Music concerts take place every year in the Protestant town church. If you are planning a visit for one of them, check the current event dates.

At the “Schau mal rein” attic museum, you can admire, touch and try out historical everyday objects. Visits are scheduled for Sunday mornings or by appointment; check in advance whether this arrangement is still in effect.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

If you are especially interested in history and literature, the monastery grounds, churches and Fontane's connection to Wutz Monastery give your stay a cultural focus. For time by the water, you can consider the public swimming area in Lindow and the swimming spots at Lake Gudelacksee; for exercise, the signposted running routes and the trail by Lake Wutzsee are options. These differences can help you choose a holiday apartment based on the experiences you want to focus on in Lindow.

The wider travel destination of Ostprignitz-Ruppin offers a broader perspective on the landscape: this predominantly rural region encompasses forests, meadows, tree-lined avenues, and numerous lakes and rivers. The Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park lies partly within Ostprignitz-Ruppin and invites visitors to hike and cycle. This regional perspective complements Lindow's specific attractions without replacing them.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Storbeck-Frankendorf, Märkisch Linden, Wittstock/Dosse, Vielitzsee, Breddin, Gartow, Fehrbellin, Temnitzquell.

Go to the main travel overview: Ostprignitz-Ruppin.