Zerrenthin: Discover the village church and meadows

Village church: architectural history and distinctive details

Zerrenthin village church is the largest and oldest church in the parish and dates from the 13th century. Its tower rises to a height of about 46 meters. Its features include a square wooden bell chamber and a pointed, copper-covered spire. This brings together a long church history and striking tower architecture in a single building.

An old bell has been ringing in the church since 1997 as a permanent loan. Martin Heintze cast it in Berlin in 1681; before that, it belonged to St. Mary’s Church in Pasewalk. Its manufacture, former home and present use mark different stages in its history. The surrounding wall-painting cycle probably dates from the first half of the 16th century. It was uncovered in 1970 and restored from 1994 to 1996. There is also a war memorial on the north side of the church.

Church services are held regularly in the village church. Check the current service times before visiting. This allows you to combine an interest in church history with a look at the actual schedule.

The Zerrenthin meadows and their history

The Zerrenthin meadows lie nearby, between Krugsdorf, Koblentz, Zerrenthin and Breitenstein. By a considerable margin, they are the largest of the five inland salt sites in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The marsh grassland is used for haymaking and grazing, and is also an important migration and resting site for numerous wading birds. Species found there include golden plover, whimbrel, ruff, Eurasian curlew and northern lapwing.

The landscape also has a history of earlier use: because the salt content was high in some places, salt was extracted from the marsh until the 18th century. Thus, the Zerrenthin meadows bring together current meadow and pasture use, resting birds and historic salt production. For travelers interested in landscape and nature, this offers a different focus from the village church’s architectural and artistic history.

Cycling tours and seasonal produce

Well-maintained agricultural tracks from Zerrenthin make extended cycling tours through the attractive surrounding area possible. Cycling thus complements the historical and natural-history themes with an active way to explore the area. No specific tour length or travel time is implied.

The farm shop at Hof Bischoff in Zerrenthin offers seasonal products made from the farm’s slaughtered and processed livestock, as well as produce from the garden. This adds a local connection to agricultural produce to the travel experience. As the selection is seasonal, check current availability before visiting.

Vorpommern-Greifswald as a wider travel area

Beyond Zerrenthin, the wider destination of Vorpommern-Greifswald offers further nature, culture and cycling themes. The district’s three nature parks cover almost 40 percent of its area. The Ueckermünde Heath invites visitors to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and horseback riding.

The region also has its own cultural-history highlights: the Pomeranian State Museum in Greifswald displays the Croy Tapestry from 1554, a unique cultural and historical artifact from the Reformation period. The Otto Lilienthal Museum in Anklam is dedicated to aviation pioneer, mechanical engineer and humanist Otto Lilienthal in his hometown. These destinations add further themes within the wider travel area to the story of Zerrenthin’s village church.

For regional cycling tours, the Stettin Lagoon Circular Route and the Route of North German Romanticism are among the routes that can be used to explore the district. The Baltic Sea Cycle Route, part of EuroVelo Route EV10, also passes through Vorpommern-Greifswald district. When planning a specific tour, check route conditions and signage.

Discover more destinations: Jatznick, Krugsdorf, Polzow, Nieden, Viereck, Schönwalde, Papendorf, Rollwitz.

Return to the wider travel overview: Amt Uecker-Randow-Tal.