Bützow: Brick Gothic, miniature town and Warnow
Accommodation in Bützow
Bützow brings together Brick Gothic architecture and the old town with experiences on the Warnow. For your trip, you can choose between architecture, a visit to the miniature town, and activities on the water or by bicycle. The sights are easy to explore on foot from the lively town centre, so you can plan your walk around the historic buildings and add other interests.
Brick Gothic and historic buildings
Bützow Collegiate Church is the oldest building in the town. The three-aisled hall church was built in the 13th century in the Brick Gothic style. It is a monument of national significance and part of the European Route of Brick Gothic. Those interested in the architecture of this period will find several specific points of reference here: the construction period, the building’s design and its place on the route are all part of the church’s profile.
Another early building is the Krumme Haus. It is one of Bützow’s oldest buildings and was built in the 15th century as part of the episcopal castle complex. Together with the collegiate church, it represents different historical chapters of the town: the church dates from the 13th century, and the Krumme Haus from the 15th century. The town hall also shapes the historic townscape. Built in the Tudor Gothic style, it stands right on the market square in the old town.
Old-town stories and watermill
In front of the town hall, the Goose Fountain commemorates the Bützow Goose War. Behind it was a small citizens’ revolt against a magistrate’s decree that sought to ban geese from roaming freely in the town. The fountain’s motif thus points to a specific conflict in the town’s history and complements the view of its landmark buildings with a local story.
The Bützow Watermill, a listed monument, is part of the town’s 19th-century industrial architecture. The surviving mill complex stands to the left of Bützow harbour, right beside the Warnow. The mill building and one of its two waterwheels have been preserved. If you would like to look beyond churches and the town hall when exploring architecture, you can also include an industrial building in your tour of the town.
Miniature town and workshop tour
The Bützow miniature town offers a different perspective on historic buildings. It is set in a 3-hectare park and faithfully reproduces around 145 historic buildings from 1850 to 1900 at a scale of 1:10. The miniatures offer a distinct way to explore architectural history: rather than viewing individual façades at their original size, you can see reproductions from a clearly defined period, all at the same scale.
The grounds also include a wetland habitat, sculptures and an adventure playground. A workshop tour offers a chance to see how the fine details of the reproductions are reconstructed. Visitors can therefore choose between several points of interest: the buildings in the park, the other features of the grounds and a closer look at the work involved in creating the models.
The Warnow, boat trips and cycling tours
From May to September, the electric motorboat „Warnowlöper“ is available for trips between Bützow and Schwaan. Part of the journey runs along the Warnow through the FFH area „Warnowtal mit kleinen Zuflüssen“, which is open to gentle tourism. For a water-based trip, the towns of Bützow, Sternberg and Schwaan invite visitors to stop and explore. You can therefore plan your trip around whether you would prefer to focus on historic places on land or a journey on the water.
The Bützow region offers mainly circular routes for cycling excursions, including routes starting in Bützow. The Citizens’ and Tourism Office arranges, among other things, boat and bicycle rentals as well as Warnow boat trips. It also arranges guided tours of the historic old town, excursions into the region and visits to the miniature town. You can choose between exploring independently and using arranged services, without having to combine the different activities into a set route.
Getting your bearings in the town centre
At the old Bützow harbour in the town centre, parking is free with no time limit, and there are two additional bus parking spaces. From there, you can plan your visit around the town’s attractions: architecture and the old town, the miniature town or an activity on the Warnow. The Bützow Citizens’ and Tourism Office arranges guided tours, regional excursions, boat trips and rentals.
The same page section also includes Jürgenshagen, Klein Belitz, Rühn, Baumgarten, Penzin, Bernitt, Tarnow and Warnow.
For the broader travel overview: Amt Bützow-Land.
