Pritzwalk: Old Town, Forest and Industrial Heritage

Old Town and Industrial History

The market square lies in the heart of the old town. It is home to the Neoclassical town hall, which was completed in 1829. The square is also the setting for major events such as the Musikalischer Frühling, the Pritzwalker Festtage, Herbstleuchten and the Christmas market. A green belt runs around the old town; you can allow about 30 minutes for the walking tour.

The Museumsfabrik Pritzwalk is a cultural history museum dedicated to the history of the town and its surrounding area. Its themes include industrialisation in rural areas and the history of the brewery and cloth factory. Guided tours featuring discussions on selected topics complement the visit, while hands-on activities are available in the museum’s own print shop and textile workshop. An observation platform offers views over Pritzwalk and the surrounding area.

You can encounter the town’s industrial history beyond the museum, too: the cloth factory and brewery site on Dömnitz Island are listed examples of 19th- and 20th-century industrial architecture. The old signal box at the railway station houses the Museum of Railway Technology & Railway Police History. Its exhibits include an electromechanical signal box for train dispatchers, historic telecommunications equipment such as radiotelephones and intercom systems, as well as uniforms, work clothes, photographs and documents. Remains of the ramparts north of the town, by the Dömnitz, are a reminder of medieval Pritzwalk. St. Nicholas Church preserves remnants of a medieval fieldstone structure; its Neo-Gothic church tower is 72 metres high and dates from 1882.

Forest Trails and Outings in the Countryside

Hainholz, on the northeastern edge of town, is a 250-hectare forest with an extensive network of well-maintained trails. Several themed routes invite you to take a walk in the woods. For a cycling trip, there is also a paved cycle path to Streckenthin. Those interested in nature and forests will find a natural history exhibition and a forest education programme at the Hainholz Nature Conservation Centre.

The Hainholz forest is also home to the petting zoo. About 170 animals live on its 0.7 hectares, including rabbits, sheep, goats, peacocks, ducks, ferrets and guinea pigs. Another option for a walk is Trappenberg, a small wooded area south of Pritzwalk used by walkers. For a longer cycling loop, the 38-kilometre Pollotour follows well-maintained cycle paths through a gently rolling, varied landscape of fields, meadows and forests in and around Pritzwalk.

Things to Enjoy on Different Days of Your Holiday

If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you can choose between the trails in Hainholz, the green belt around the old town and the longer Pollotour. For culture enthusiasts, the focus is on the town’s history, industrial heritage and exhibitions. From early July to late August, visitors can pick their own blueberries at the Pritzwalk blueberry plantation; the fruit is also sold in the farm shop. Depending on your interests, you can shape your stay around nature, history or a seasonal taste experience.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider which side of Pritzwalk you want to shape your holiday around: a stay focused on the old town and culture, or more time for walks and cycling trips. The railway station is in the south of town, about a ten-minute walk from the old town. The tourist information office is located inside a museum, beside the Prignitz cycle route network and the Dömnitz Island car park; it is a point of contact for visitors.

The Pritzwalk Cultural Centre has also been involved for many years in cultural and community events in and around the town, including children’s theatre, family celebrations, and music and dance events. For ideas for other places to visit, discover Buchholz.

Other local pages at the same level: Groß Pankow, Meyenburg, Gumtow, Gerdshagen, Wootz, Mansfeld and Weisen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Prignitz.