Discover Velgast: Culture and Nature in the Municipality

Starkow: Brick Church, Organ and Garden

In Starkow, a place within the municipality of Velgast, stands St. Jürgen’s Church, a richly decorated, three-aisled brick basilica dating from the 13th century. It was extended around 1300 and is considered one of the earliest brick churches in Western Pomerania. The German Foundation for Monument Protection classifies it as a “building of national importance.” The organ also has a history of its own: built in 1860 in the workshop of Stralsund organ builder Friedrich Albert Mehmel, it has 17 stops and was rededicated in 2010 after extensive restoration.

Alongside the church, the historic ensemble includes the rectory, the school and sexton’s house, the parish barn, the preacher’s widow’s house and the historic rectory garden with its orchard meadow. The garden has significant heritage-gardening and local-history value and is well suited to a stroll. Garden tours take place during events or on request. If you would like to combine a visit to the church with a garden visit, be sure to check whether a tour is available.

Starkow’s cultural program also offers seasonal events: the tree blossom festival opens the season in early May, and Appeldag takes place every year in October. There are also changing art exhibitions, readings and concerts. Check the specific event dates before your trip. Families can use the playground on Kirchsteig, which has a climbing frame, slides, swings and a large sand area; it is suitable for families with children. As playground facilities may change, it is advisable to check the latest information shortly before your visit.

Schuenhagen: Forestry History and Forest Knowledge

The history of the forestry office in Schuenhagen goes back more than 200 years and can be traced to the period of Swedish Pomerania. The listed forestry lodge at Kronenwald 1 is a brick building with a decorative gable and is considered an example of Prussian administrative architecture. It continues to serve as the seat of the Schuenhagen Forestry Office and is located right by the Barthe River.

Opened in 2022, the “Der Baumschatz von Schuenhagen” (“Schuenhagen’s Tree Treasure”) nature trail passes through a small, species-rich woodland. Information boards introduce native tree species; at the end of the walk, a quiz leads visitors to discover the “tree treasure” in an ancient oak. At the forestry office, the white-tailed eagle trail also provides information about the eagle’s way of life and migratory behavior. It is free and open year-round; check the latest access details before your visit.

The Klimawald reforestation area is also near Schuenhagen. It can be reached via the L 212. There is a parking option at the forestry office; from there, signposts and a footpath of about 200 meters lead to the area. This information helps with finding your way on site without specifying a walking time.

Nature Watching and Tours in the Municipality

The area around Bussin offers opportunities for walks, hikes, cycling tours, and bird and wildlife watching in nearby mixed forests. In Manschenhagen, the Bodden Coast Tour passes through the village and offers insights into the varied coastal landscape. In autumn and spring, you can also observe the annual crane migration there: the birds travel toward Southern Europe or Scandinavia.

Velgast is also part of a published cycling route: Tour 5 A of the Bodden Coast Tour runs from Barth via Kenz, Löbnitz, Starkow and Velgast, then continues through Groß Kordshagen, Günz, Nisdorf, Groß Mohrdorf, Hohendorf, Barhöft and Klausdorf. The return to Barth is via Hohendorf, Nisdorf and Glöwitz. The route thus links several stops in the municipality with other places along the tour. For planning, you can refer to the specific route sequence and decide which sections and destinations suit your stay.

Regional Routes and Choosing Where to Stay

In the wider Vorpommern-Rügen destination, the Baltic Sea Cycle Route and the Hamburg–Rügen long-distance cycle route cross the North Vorpommersche Waldlandschaft. Other regional cycling routes include the “Östlicher Backsteinweg,” the “Fischland-Darß-Rundweg,” the “Recknitztalrundweg” and the “Trebeltalrundweg”; they pass through or along the edge of the “Schreiadlerland.” The Via Baltica and the 400-kilometer Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail E 9 also pass through the North Vorpommersche Waldlandschaft. This regional perspective complements excursions to places within the municipality with wider cycling and hiking routes.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Velgast, it is worth considering what you plan to focus on: Velgast itself has the historic rail connection, while the church and rectory garden are in Starkow, and the forestry and woodland destinations are in Schuenhagen. Bussin and Manschenhagen offer further nature and wildlife-watching opportunities. Base your search on the places you would like to explore during your stay, and check current services if you are arriving by train.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Millienhagen-Oebelitz, Papenhagen, Glewitz, Splietsdorf, Franzburg, Weitenhagen, Wendisch Baggendorf, Gremersdorf-Buchholz.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Amt Franzburg-Richtenberg.