Jabel: Between the Reuter Yew and the Lake District
Accommodation in Jabel
Jabel combines nature experiences throughout the municipality with a distinctive local history. In the village, the Reuter Yew stands in the rectory grounds; elsewhere in the municipality, the Jabel Lake, the Damerower Werder peninsula, and nature attractions in Damerow shape the landscape. The range extends from a named yew to hikes and lakeside scenery, as well as wildlife watching at the bison reserve.
A Yew and the Story of Reconstruction
A yew stands in the rectory grounds in Jabel. In 2010, it was named the Reuter Yew in honor of Fritz Reuter. A measurement taken in 2006 recorded its trunk circumference as 4.75 meters, measured at a height of 30 centimeters. The yew is among the largest in the state. Its specific measurement and the name given to it later offer two different insights into the tree’s history.
Fritz Reuter is also connected with Jabel’s reconstruction: he campaigned for it after the village fire of 1868. The village was rebuilt within about six years. The dedication of the yew and this episode reflect different connections to Reuter—an honor in the rectory grounds and his efforts on behalf of the village.
Lakeside Scenery and Time Outdoors
Jabel Lake is about 4,000 meters long and 1,300 meters wide. The municipality is also home to Damerower Werder, a peninsula surrounded by Lake Kölpin and Lake Jabel, connected to the mainland by only a narrow strip of land. The western part of the municipality of Jabel lies within Nossentiner-Schwinzer Heath Nature Park. The lake, peninsula, and nature park are distinct landscape features of the municipality.
In Jabel, extensive hikes through the nature park invite visitors to discover a variety of plants and animals. A marina in Jabel offers boat hikers a safe place to moor and rest. Hiking and taking a break by the water are two different ways to enjoy the municipality.
Two campsites, as well as holiday and weekend homes, are located on Jabel Lake within the municipality of Jabel. Holidaymakers visit them every year by boat or car; they are places for recreation, relaxation, and peace and quiet. This adds a tranquil lakeside retreat to the nature and hiking opportunities.
Nature Experiences in Damerow
In Damerow, a district of the municipality of Jabel, lies the 320-hectare Damerower Werder Bison Reserve. Between 30 and 35 bison live there year-round in the wild, alongside roe deer, red deer, foxes, and wild boar. Visitors can observe the animals. Animal populations can change.
The reserve has a tree course, a tree net, balancing routes, a treetop walk, swings, slides, a zip line, and climbing frames. The forest discovery trail includes climbing opportunities, an ant house, an exhibition with touch-and-see panels, and a dendrophone made from branches of various tree species. Wildlife watching and a range of nature activity facilities are available at the same destination.
Daily feeding demonstrations take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Check the times before your visit.
Nature Attractions in the Mecklenburg Lake District
MĂĽritz National Park is part of the Mecklenburg Lake District and is characterized by forests, bogs, lakes, and broad meadows. The MĂĽritz National Park Hiking Trail traverses the landscape in nine stages, passing lakes, winding through ancient forests, past inland dunes, and reaching the source of the Havel. Certified nature and landscape guides offer informative tours through the park, including tours in the UNESCO World Heritage beech forest of Serrahn and trips from the water. The long-distance hiking trail and guided nature tours offer different ways to explore this landscape.
Discover more destinations: Hohen Wangelin, GroĂź Plasten, Vollrathsruhe, Dratow-Schloen, Neu Gaarz, Klocksin, Torgelow Am See, Kargow.
View the regional travel guide: Amt Seenlandschaft Waren.
