Marlow: Town Church and Recknitz Landscape
Accommodation in Marlow
Situated on the western slope of a glacial meltwater valley, Marlow brings together the Recknitz landscape and a town church dating from the 13th century. The Recknitz flows through the valley, which has formed a natural boundary between Mecklenburg and Western Pomerania for centuries. This offers different options when planning a holiday: architectural and local history, as well as exploring the surrounding area on foot, by bicycle, or on the water. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can choose what to focus on, whether the church and its history or activities in the river landscape are the deciding factor.
Brick, Granite, and Building History in Marlow
Marlow Town Church is a red-brick building on granite rock. It was built in the 13th century and was probably completed and consecrated in 1244; its tower dates from the 15th century. This makes it possible to distinguish different historical periods in a single building: its early construction, its probable completion in 1244, and the later addition of the tower.
The town church’s furnishings include a tombstone from 1229, considered one of the three oldest in the state and the best preserved. The organ also tells a story of development over time: its core dates from 1839; by 1993, it had been expanded to include two manuals, a pedal, and a total of 1,151 pipes. The tombstone and the organ add two specific details to the building’s history, offering a glimpse of the church’s age and furnishings.
The Recknitz, History, and Exploring the Surrounding Area
The landscape around Marlow is shaped by the glacial meltwater valley and the Recknitz. The history of the river crossing also goes back a long way: a major trade route is said to have crossed the Recknitz near Marlow in the 12th and 13th centuries. This wording is deliberately cautious; as a historical point of reference, it adds a possible earlier significance of the crossing to the present-day landscape.
You can explore the area around Marlow by bicycle, on foot, and from the water on the Recknitz. For those interested in the river, the Marlow water sports rest area is a specific landmark: it is located between Marlow and Semlow, right by the Marlow Recknitz Bridge. Facilities include sanitary facilities, tent camping, parking spaces for cars, and launching points for canoes, motorboats, and fishing boats. The site welcomes guests from April to October. Check the current operating arrangements before your trip.
A simple comparison can help you choose a holiday apartment: would you like architectural and church history to shape your stay, or would you mainly like to explore the area by bicycle, on foot, and from the water? Marlow brings both interests together, without making them the same kind of itinerary. The town church offers specific starting points for a history-focused stay; the Recknitz and the glacial valley provide a distinct setting for exploring the landscape.
Cultural and Landscape Diversity in Vorpommern-Rügen
The wider travel destination of Vorpommern-Rügen offers further cultural and landscape highlights. The number of museums in the district is estimated at around 60. The old town of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar.” On Rügen, the beech forests in Jasmund National Park are part of the World Heritage Site “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.” The Störtebeker Festival is also among the cultural events for which Vorpommern-Rügen is known.
Another way to engage with art is to visit the gallery in the monastery in Ribnitz-Damgarten. It hosts changing exhibitions featuring works from the district’s art collection; the gallery also preserves, maintains, and administers the collection. It comprises around 500 works of painting, graphic art, sculpture, ceramics, silk painting, and textile design, dating from the late 19th century to the present. A permanent exhibition of prints by Lyonel Feininger adds to the offering. The gallery is run by the Ribnitz-Damgarten Art Association; check the current visitor arrangements before your visit.
In Putbus, the gallery in the orangery presents up to eight exhibitions each year and also hosts readings and concerts. The exhibition venue is housed in a historic building in the heart of Putbus, a town of art and culture. Traditionally, at the end of the year, the gallery presents works from the Rügen Cultural Foundation collection, which comprises more than 1,500 exhibits. These examples show the breadth of the wider travel destination: from Marlow’s town and river history to regional art collections, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and cultural events.
Discover More Destinations
Also discover: Putbus, Amt Darß/Fischland, Amt Ribnitz-Damgarten, Amt Niepars, Amt Franzburg-Richtenberg, Süderholz, Amt West-Rügen, Amt Bergen Auf Rügen.
Back to the overview of the wider travel destination: Vorpommern-Rügen.
