Lancken-Granitz: Megalithic Tombs and St. Andrew’s Church

Lancken-Granitz lies in the heart of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve and combines a group of Stone Age megalithic tombs with St. Andrew’s Church, dating from the 15th century. Nearby, you’ll also find the Mönchgut Cycle Route, Lake Neuensien and the wooded ridge of the Granitz. Here, archaeology, church history and a range of outdoor activities come together. If you’d like to combine culture and exercise, the different destinations offer concrete ideas for planning your day.

Stone Age megalithic tombs

About one kilometre southwest of Lancken-Granitz, you can visit seven well-preserved megalithic tombs from the Late Stone Age. They are about 5,000 years old and belong to the Funnelbeaker culture. The megalithic tombs of Lancken-Granitz lie within the triangle formed by Lancken-Granitz, Dummertevitz and Burtevitz. Their grouping makes it clear that this is an archaeological focal point: the site is not just a single monument, but a concentration of prehistoric burial sites. Check local conditions before your visit.

In Vorpommern-Rügen district, these tombs form the largest and best-preserved concentration of megalithic tombs. Originally, there were at least 19 megalithic tombs here, which have been almost entirely investigated archaeologically. The seven well-preserved tombs can therefore be understood within a broader historical context: today’s group points to a concentration that was originally much larger.

Routes between tombs and the Bodden

Prehistory is also present along the cycling routes. Lancken-Granitz lies on the 30-kilometre Mönchgut Cycle Route from Putbus to the Baltic seaside resort of Göhren. On the section towards Lancken-Granitz and Seedorf, cyclists pass numerous prehistoric megalithic tombs. Another themed route, “Mönchgut – Megalithic Tombs and Bodden,” leads from Lancken-Granitz to the Ziegensteine, also known as the Siegessteine. They are the remains of a group of megalithic tombs on the way to Groß Stresow. There are therefore different routes to choose from: a 30-kilometre cycle route and a themed route to the Ziegensteine.

St. Andrew’s Church and its historic furnishings

St. Andrew’s Church was built of brick and fieldstone in the 15th century. The parish church retains wall paintings from the time it was built, as well as exposed remnants of medieval wall paintings. Its furnishings include choir stalls dating from 1522, a pulpit from 1598 and a baptismal angel from the early 18th century. These dates span the church’s construction in the 15th century and furnishings added in later centuries. Together with the Stone Age tombs, they represent two very different historical periods: a prehistoric group of tombs and a church building with furnishings from several centuries.

Lake, forest and choosing where to stay

The Granitz nature reserve, a wooded ridge in southeastern Rügen, is nearby. It lies within the regional triangle between Binz, Lancken-Granitz and Sellin and covers just under 1,000 hectares. This is distinct from Lancken-Granitz’s location in the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve: both protected areas shape the broader landscape, but they are separate areas.

Lake Neuensien is a few hundred metres from Lancken-Granitz and is ideal for walks and exploring. On the return to Lancken-Granitz, the cycle route follows a path with lovely views of the lake. This lets you combine the landscape with the town’s historical attractions, without having to make the same kind of outing your main focus.

If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Lancken-Granitz, you can choose where to stay according to what you’d like to focus on: megalithic tombs and church art, the Mönchgut Cycle Route, or walks by the lake and in the nearby natural surroundings. Your choice depends on the experiences you’d like to include in your holiday.

Discover more destinations: Baabe, Zirkow, Gager, Sellin, Thiessow, Middelhagen, Göhren

Back to the main travel overview: Amt Mönchgut-Granitz.