Lancken-Granitz: Megalithic Tombs, Church and Cycling Routes

Lancken-Granitz can be explored through two very different traces of time: the approximately 5,000-year-old megalithic tombs and St. Andrew’s Church, dating from the 15th century. The village is also in the heart of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve. Archaeology, church art and protected landscapes are therefore the main themes of a stay here.

Landscape and nature

The Granitz Nature Reserve lies in the regional triangle between Binz, Lancken-Granitz and Sellin. It covers just under 1,000 hectares and is a wooded ridge in southeastern Rügen. Lake Neuensien is a few hundred metres from Lancken-Granitz and invites visitors to walk and explore. This brings together different landscape features: the wooded ridge of the Granitz and the nearby lake. These natural features complement the village’s historic sights with woodland and water.

Neolithic megalithic tombs

The megalithic tombs of Lancken-Granitz comprise seven well-preserved structures of the Funnel Beaker Culture, dating back approximately 5,000 years. They lie in the triangle between Lancken-Granitz, Dummertevitz and Burtevitz; the tombs can be visited about one kilometre southwest of the village. Check local access conditions in advance. In Vorpommern-Rügen district, they form the largest and best-preserved concentration of megalithic tombs. Originally, there were at least 19 burial mounds here, which have been almost completely investigated archaeologically. Lake Neuensien is closer to Lancken-Granitz than the tombs: it is a few hundred metres away, while the tombs are about one kilometre southwest of the village.

St. Andrew’s Church and historic furnishings

St. Andrew’s Church in Lancken-Granitz was built of brick and fieldstone in the 15th century. Wall paintings from the time of its construction have survived; the parish church also has uncovered remnants of medieval wall paintings. Its furnishings include a baptismal angel from the early 18th century, choir stalls dating from 1522 and a pulpit dating from 1598. The construction date, wall paintings and dated furnishings provide different clues to the church’s history: alongside the 15th-century building are artworks and furnishings from later centuries.

Cycling routes and places to visit

Lancken-Granitz lies along the 30-kilometre Mönchgut cycle tour from Putbus to the Baltic seaside resort of Göhren. On the section towards Lancken-Granitz and Seedorf, visitors pass numerous prehistoric megalithic tombs. On the return to Lancken-Granitz, the route follows a cycle path with lovely views of Lake Neuensien. Another route is called “Mönchgut – Megalithic Tombs and Bodden” and leads from Lancken-Granitz to the Ziegensteine, also known as the Siegessteine. Here, the remains of a group of megalithic tombs lie along the route to Groß Stresow. The routes therefore offer different points of reference: one cycle connection with named start and end points, and another route with an archaeological destination.

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

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