Poel Island: Nature, Water and History
Accommodation in Poel Island
On Poel Island, birdwatching on the beach, water sports and a surprisingly diverse range of cultural attractions come together. If you like to spend your holiday days in different ways, you’ll find inspiration in nature, on the water and in the island’s towns. The right holiday apartment as a base depends on which of these experiences you’d like to make the focus of your trip.
Discover birds and geological history
Gollwitz Beach is very close to the offshore bird sanctuary island of Langenwerder. Rare bird species can be observed from a beach chair. Langenwerder provides suitable habitats for waders and waterbirds; migratory birds also use the island as a stopover.
Poel’s boulder garden also focuses on nature, but from a geological perspective. It displays rocks found exclusively on the coasts or in the fields of Poel Island. The garden offers an insight into around two billion years of geological history. A visit therefore focuses not just on individual specimens, but on a very long geological period and the rocks found on the island.
On foot, by bike or on the water
Almost all places on Poel Island can be reached on foot or by bicycle via signposted country roads. Bikes can be rented in Gollwitz, Kirchdorf, Am Schwarzen Busch, Kaltenhof and Timmendorf-Strand. No specific route length or walking time is associated with this.
During the swimming season, water sports are available at Timmendorf Beach, including water skiing, kitesurfing and surfing. Island paddling offers a different perspective on the water: from May to October, a six-hour kayaking trip takes place off the coasts of Poel Island and neighbouring islands every Thursday. Equipment and an experienced skipper are provided for the group circumnavigation of Poel. If you’re interested in these activities, you can consider which island experiences matter most to you when choosing where to stay.
The harbours are also part of the island’s maritime character. The larger harbours of Timmendorf, Kirchdorf and Niendorf have service and supply facilities and offer numerous guest berths for sailing and motorboats. Alongside the beach and kayaking, they give visitors interested in boats and harbour life further points of interest.
Cultural attractions and special insights
The church on Poel Island is a brick church built in the first half of the 13th century. Its Romanesque-Gothic style and 47-metre-high tower make it a distinctive landmark, visible across much of the island. In addition to church services, the church is open for guided tours and visits, and hosts numerous concerts. If you’d like to include culture in your holiday, you can consider these offerings alongside experiences in nature and on the water.
In Kirchdorf, the castle ramparts of the former fortified complex with a castle are now used for events and markets, as well as an open-air stage. The Kaltenhof Maritime Collection displays historic ship lanterns dating from 1906 to the present day, along with numerous old navigational instruments used to steer ships. In Vorwerk, a replica of the “Poeler Kogge” floats on a fire pond. These varied places offer insights into architectural history, maritime objects and a distinctive depiction of a ship.
Another place to visit is the University of Wismar’s show garden in the Malchow district. It serves as a practical research site for students studying biotechnology and renewable resources, and is open to visitors free of charge. A memorial in the village of Am Schwarzen Busch and a small permanent special exhibition in the island museum commemorate a disaster in Lübeck Bay. If you’d like to learn about cultural and historical topics as well as beaches and nature, you can include them in your plans.
Planning your stay
The Poel causeway, with its bridge, crosses the strait known as the “Breitling” and provides access to Poel Island. Gollwitz, close to Langenwerder, is a specific point of reference for nature observation; Timmendorf Beach is noted for water sports. You can also consider other places on the island when searching: Gollwitz, Wangern and Timmendorf. This lets you choose a holiday apartment based on the places and experiences that are most interesting to you during your stay.
For the broader travel overview: Northwest Mecklenburg.
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