Warsow: Church, Sude and Nature

The Sude and the River Landscape

The Sude flows along the southern boundary of the municipality and meanders from a moorland area behind Mühlenbeck, past Warsow and towards the Elbe. Near Warsow, the natural stream and river stretches of the Sude and Beek are part of a landscape of wet meadows, alders, willows and hazelnut trees. These habitats provide space for beavers and kingfishers. The river channels, carved into the land, have also created steep banks that provide suitable conditions for beavers’ burrows.

The natural side of Warsow is therefore linked not just to the name of the river, but to specific habitats and riverbank formations. Visitors particularly interested in waterways and nature will find a different focus here from the church’s historic furnishings. The habitats mentioned show that the Sude and Beek also play a role as wildlife habitats.

A Circular Trail with a Stop in Warsow

The “Around the Sude” circular trail is around 21 kilometres long. It runs from Kothendorf to Warsow, includes a short visit to the church there, and then continues towards Mühlenbeck. The total length of the circuit is a practical reference point for planning a day. The church is included as a brief visit along the route, bringing together a natural landscape and a cultural attraction.

Anyone interested in this circular trail can treat its roughly 21-kilometre length as a factor in their travel plans and include the planned church visit. For other travellers, the church may be the main cultural attraction in its own right. Warsow can thus be explored through its river landscape, its historic building, or a combination of the two.

The Gothic Church and Its History

The church in Warsow is a Gothic building, probably constructed in the 12th or 13th century. It is considered the oldest church in the Amt Stralendorf administrative area. Warsow itself was first mentioned in a document in 1217 as an estate and church village under the name Warsowe. This date refers to the earliest recorded mention of the village.

Several distinctive features stand out in the building: the chancel is octagonal, while the tower extends into the single-nave interior and seems to rise from the roof. An octagonal slate-covered pyramid sits above the church tower. Together, the chancel, interior and tower provide a vivid picture of the architecture without reducing the church to a single feature.

The furnishings also include pieces from different periods. They include a baptismal font, a pulpit, the pews dating from 1892 and an old carved altar screen on the north side. The Friese I organ dates from 1833. It originally came from the church in Wustrow on the Fischland-Darß peninsula; J. H. Runge installed it in Warsow in 1874. In 1999, Rostock organ builder Schmidt restored it. The organ is regarded as the last work by organ builder Friese I and is therefore particularly significant.

Church Life and Special Spaces

Concerts are held in the church every year during the summer months. The church also hosts an Advent market on the third Sunday of Advent, with Advent music. These two events mark different seasons: the concerts take place in summer, while the market is tied to the third Sunday of Advent.

The church tower room was redesigned and renovated as the “Tower for All.” It has heating, a toilet and a kitchen and can be used for a variety of purposes. Thus, alongside its historic fabric, the church also has a redesigned space with its own facilities.

Getting There and Other Destinations

Warsow is located directly on federal highway 321. The nearest railway station on the Schwerin–Hagenow line is in Alt Zachun, about 5 kilometres from Warsow. If you are planning your journey by road or rail, these are two useful reference points; the distance from the station to Warsow is expressly given as approximate.

Other places in this selection include Holthusen, Klein Rogahn, Schossin, Dümmer, Zülow, Wittenförden and Pampow.

For the broader travel overview: Amt Stralendorf.