Toddin – Historic Traces of the Castle, Estate and Half-Timbered Buildings

Historical Traces in Toddin

Oll Burg, southwest of Toddin, was mentioned in 1128 as a complex of wood and earth ramparts with a castle, residential area and farmyard. Hans von Pentz became the feudal holder of Toddin in 1432; his family remained connected with the estate until 1670. The von Pentz family’s half-timbered chapel was built in 1520 on the commission of Joachim von Pentz. It was demolished in 1956, presumably because it had fallen into disrepair. Toddin’s religious center had a history spanning more than 500 years; this initially came to an end with the act of deconsecration. Chronologically, the mention of the castle, the von Pentz family’s connection with the estate and the chapel’s history belong to distinct stages; together, they span the Middle Ages through the 20th century.

The monument list for the Ludwigslust-Parchim district (as of August 2023) includes the former smithy at Dorfstraße 28, the fieldstone barn at Hillerweg 8, the house at Mühlenweg 6, and the houses at Mühlenweg 8/10. These entries represent crafts, agricultural construction and residential buildings. Alongside the history of the estate, the family and the religious center, they reveal the variety of buildings serving everyday village needs.

Ludwigslust-Parchim: Culture and Nature in a Wider Context

Within the wider travel destination of Ludwigslust-Parchim, Ludwigslust Palace is a cultural and historical attraction in its own right. It was the former residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg. Together with its park and the town, the palace forms an ensemble known as the “Little Versailles of the North.” It stands at the center of an almost completely preserved late Baroque town layout, with a former court church and an English-style landscape park. The palace presents art and courtly domestic culture from the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Another highlight in the wider travel destination of Ludwigslust-Parchim is Dömitz Fortress. The museum there explores the history of the fortress and town, the Elbe, harbor and bridges, Fritz Reuter, as well as special and art exhibitions. The citadel is a Renaissance fortress laid out on the Italian model in the shape of a pentagon, with bastions, casemates and a drawbridge. Thus, Dömitz focuses on fortress architecture and town history, while Ludwigslust Palace represents courtly domestic culture and a late Baroque town layout.

At Zarrentin Monastery, in the wider travel destination of Ludwigslust-Parchim, guided tours cover the history of the former Cistercian nunnery, the nuns’ lives and the architecture; a permanent exhibition about the monastery is located on the ground floor. Dates and access may change; check both before your visit. Nature is also part of Ludwigslust-Parchim: the calcareous fen near Zarrentin is part of the Schaalelauf Nature Reserve. Visitors can explore the fen from the nature trail.

Discover more destinations: Strohkirchen, Groß Krams, Belsch, Picher, Setzin, Kirch Jesar, Alt Zachun, Pätow-Steegen.

For the wider travel overview: Amt Hagenow-Land.