Discover Barkhagen: Culture and Nature in Ludwigslust-Parchim
Accommodation in Barkhagen
When planning a holiday in Barkhagen, it is worth looking at two levels: in the municipality it belongs to, village churches, a manor house and the Müritz-Elde Waterway tell different stories of the area; the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim travel destination adds residential history, fortresses and protected landscapes to the mix. This lets you choose a holiday apartment based on the themes you want to shape your trip.
Village history in Barkow and Plauerhagen
The nave of Barkow Church is almost 700 years old. Massive fieldstone masonry and deep window niches define the building; the church tower displays the half-timbered construction style of the early 19th century. After the roof collapsed in 2004, a steel structure was inserted between the nave and the tower during reconstruction. Since 2006, the village church has had step-free access. The Barkow vicarage also has a special institutional role: it is the home of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Trombone Choir Association.
In Plauerhagen, the village church dates from 1784. The half-timbered building with brickwork has a small roof turret. Also in Plauerhagen, the Blücher Oak stands beside a memorial stone dating from 1913. Barkow combines natural monuments with other places of remembrance: the cemetery oak is a pedunculate oak over 600 years old, while the Victory Oak stands beside a memorial stone commemorating the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. Churches, ancient trees and memorial stones offer distinct, tangible points of reference to the area's history.
Waterways and Barkow Manor
The Müritz-Elde Waterway runs through the district of Barkow, where the Barkow lock is also located. It is a self-service lock. Its chamber is 55 metres long and 6.6 metres wide, and the lift is 3.2 metres. Via several waterways, the Müritz-Elde Waterway connects directly with Hamburg and Berlin from Barkow. This describes a waterway connection, not a journey time or timetable.
Barkow Manor was built by the Hülße family in 1913. Its large garden borders directly on the Müritz-Elde Waterway. The canoe station is behind the manor house, right on the Elde; the manor house also rents out canoes and bicycles. Check current availability before your trip. For days spent mainly on the water, the lock, waterway and canoe station offer different interests from the churches and memorial sites in the municipality.
Culture and landscapes in Ludwigslust-Parchim
In the wider Ludwigslust-Parchim travel destination, Ludwigslust Palace is a landmark of courtly history. It was the former residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg and, together with its park and town, forms an ensemble known as the “Little Versailles of the North.” The palace stands at the centre of an almost completely preserved late Baroque town plan, with a former court church and an English-style landscape park. The palace also showcases art and courtly domestic culture from the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Dömitz offers a different historical perspective: its citadel is a Renaissance fortress laid out on the Italian model, in the shape of a pentagon with bastions, casemates and a drawbridge. The museum in the fortress explores the history of the fortress and town, the Elbe, harbour and bridges, as well as Fritz Reuter. Temporary and art exhibitions are also held; their current programme may change. At Zarrentin Monastery, guided tours cover the history of the former Cistercian convent, the lives of the nuns and the architecture. The ground floor houses a permanent exhibition about the monastery. Check tour dates and access arrangements before visiting.
The landscapes also give the travel destination its own character: Lewitz is one of the protected areas in Ludwigslust-Parchim district, where visitors can discover a rich variety of flora and fauna. The region's natural landscape also includes Sternberg Lake District Nature Park and the Schaalsee UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Near Zarrentin, the calcareous fen is part of the Schaalelauf Nature Reserve; visitors can explore the fen from the nature trail. Thus, nature sits alongside palace, fortress and monastery history in the wider travel destination.
When choosing a holiday apartment in Barkhagen, it helps to sort out your travel interests: waterways and village history have tangible points of reference in Barkow and Plauerhagen, within the municipality; cultural and nature themes broaden the picture to include Ludwigslust-Parchim. Before making plans, check the current availability of canoe and bicycle rentals, as well as tour dates and access arrangements.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Buchberg, Ganzlin.
Go to the overview of the wider travel destination: Plau am See Administrative District.
