Sarnow: Village Church, Megalithic Tomb and Peene-South Canal

Sarnow combines a remarkable village church with discoveries in the forest and paths through the surrounding area. A variety of impressions come together here: a building with three functions under one roof, a megalithic tomb at a crossroads and the route of the Peene-South Canal. A longer driving tour also passes through the village—one way to include Sarnow in your travel plans, depending on your interests.

A Village Church with an Unusual History

Sarnow Village Church was built in 1754 under Field Marshal Curd Christoph von Schwerin as a Late Baroque church. Its combination of different purposes is particularly remarkable: a church, poorhouse and school are all housed under one roof. This combination is unique in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. For families, this offers a tangible conversation starter: one building can prompt discussion about the combination of religious, social and educational uses.

The design also gives the church its distinctive character. It is an elongated, plastered rectangular building made of bricks and individual fieldstones. A recessed tower stands at the western end, and a gabled roof completes the building. The mix of brick and individual fieldstones is as much a part of its description as its elongated shape and tower. This makes it possible to understand the village church not only by its year of construction, but also through its architecture.

The Sarnow Church-Hospital-School Friends Association holds events in the church three to four times a year. Along with donations, these events raise funds for the church’s ongoing preservation and renovation. The building’s unusual history is thus connected with continuing efforts to preserve it.

Megalithic Tomb and Paths in the Surrounding Area

A slightly disturbed megalithic tomb is located in the Sarnow forest. It lies at a crossroads, 260 metres from the edge of the forest. This precise location distinguishes the site from a destination right on the edge of the forest. Anyone interested in early monuments and historic places can consider the megalithic tomb as a separate point of interest alongside the village church.

The area around Sarnow is criss-crossed by cycling and hiking trails. Poppies and cornflowers grow along the paths. This means that, alongside exploring architectural history and a single historic site, getting out and about in the surrounding area is another option for visitors. Whether you plan a cycling tour or a hike depends on how you want to use the available trails.

The Peene-South Canal and Road Connections

The Peene-South Canal is 27 kilometres long. It runs from Stolpe via Sarnow, where it crosses the B 197, to Kavelpass and the Landgraben. This route places Sarnow in a wider geographical context: the canal connects several named places and meets the main road in Sarnow. The names and route of the waterway can also help orient a trip through the area.

“Der Grafenwinkel” offers another way to explore Sarnow by car. The 100-kilometre tour starts and ends in Anklam and follows the B 197 to Sarnow. There, it turns towards Spantekow. Sarnow is therefore a stop on this circular route, not its starting or ending point. If you visit the village as part of a drive, these details help you understand its place on the route.

The B 197 runs through Sarnow, where it crosses the L 31.

More places to explore: Stolpe an der Peene, Spantekow, Neuenkirchen, Postlow, Krien, Krusenfelde, Iven and Bugewitz.

For the broader travel overview: Amt Anklam-Land.