Kreien: Lake, village history and open countryside

Lake Kreien and its distinctive features

Lake Kreien has a surface area of 16 hectares and a shoreline of about 2,000 metres. It is a shallow, unstratified pike-and-tench lake. Broad shallow-water zones run along the shore, and underwater vegetation grows densely. Those interested in a lake’s natural characteristics will find more here than just a shoreline: the shallow areas and underwater vegetation also shape its character.

There is a restriction on boating: because of its small size, Lake Kreien may only be navigated by rowing boats. Families, children, young people and older people gather at the bathing area. During the summer holidays, the municipality assigns a lifeguard there. This seasonal information is especially useful for travellers planning their stay around a visit to the bathing area. It can help you decide between a day by the water and other explorations in Kreien.

Village church, bell tower and historic traces

The village church dates from the 14th century and is a Gothic building made of quarried fieldstone. Its gables end in flat profiles to the east and west. The separate wooden bell tower stands to the west. It has been in its current form since 1880; the steel bells date from 1922. The bell tower was renovated in 1965 and 1995. The church and bell tower thus reflect different periods of construction and renovation.

The furnishings also offer specific discoveries for travellers interested in art history: the altarpiece group was carved by Benedikt Dreyer in 1507. The Baroque pulpit dates from 1710, was renovated in 1880, and features four Evangelists painted on wood. The Renaissance baptismal font from 1664 consists of a brass bowl set into a wooden container. On the north wall is a figure of the Archangel Michael carved around 1250; on the south wall, three hand-forged grave crosses from the cemetery, each more than 100 years old, are mounted.

The church and cemetery wall, together with the rectory and rectory garden, form the centre of the village and are protected as historic monuments. The church and cemetery wall are over 630 years old, and the rectory is around 200 years old. The village’s architectural character also includes a well-preserved and renovated three-sided farmstead complex, with a brick house and two brick barns. It is privately owned. The former school was built in 1848, and the former dairy in 1902.

The area’s history stretches back further: archaeological finds show that the Kreien fields were settled in the Neolithic period, approximately between 3000 and 1600 BC. Two burial mounds in the Kreien area date from the Bronze Age. Bronze neck rings and a sword hilt were found in them. These traces add a much older history to the village buildings visible today.

Explore the landscape and plan your stay

Quiet field and woodland paths in the municipality invite you to hike and cycle. Wet meadows and alder carrs by Lake Kreien are also home to amphibians, waterbirds, birds of prey and other wildlife. You can choose different focuses for your trip: time at the bathing area, routes through the rural landscape, or an interest in natural and cultural history.

The landscape also tells the story of its formation. The so-called Frankfurt ice-margin position extended across the area of today’s municipality of Kreien. Meltwater flowed through a glacial gate near Hof Koppel, through what is now Kreiener Schweiz and Lake Kreien, towards the Elde. A former light railway from the Kreien estate to the Elde can still be seen in the landscape as a long field hedge. If you want to discover Kreien not only by the lake but also through its landforms, you will find several specific points of interest here.

Discover more places: Granzin, Marnitz, Kritzow, Tessenow, Suckow, Siggelkow, Passow, Werder.

See the wider travel overview: Amt Eldenburg Lübz.