Weitenhagen: Village Church, Forest and Trails

Village Church and Historic Traces

The village church in Weitenhagen is mentioned as early as 1280. Since 1968, it has been the spiritual centre of the House of Silence, which welcomes visitors to the church and its grounds. The church also reveals history through specific architectural features: the 15th-century brick portal has a basket-arch passageway and circular panels. Three Brigitte crosses in the churchyard are said to commemorate Birgitta of Sweden. Along with the church, the sexton's house, built in 1795, is one of the area's historic sights.

If you are interested in religious history and historic architectural styles, you can include these places in your exploration of Weitenhagen.

Along the Former Narrow-Gauge Railway Embankment and at Tonkuhle

The former narrow-gauge railway embankment is now a well-used walking and jogging route. It connects Weitenhagen and Grubenhagen and passes Tonkuhle roughly halfway along the way. Tonkuhle is a popular resting spot on walks and hikes. This route therefore offers both exercise and an opportunity to pause; knowing that Tonkuhle lies roughly along the way can help you factor it into your route planning.

The embankment crosses the municipality from the direction of Greifswald: it runs through Klein Schönwalde and Weitenhagen, passes south of Potthagen and continues to Grubenhagen. Another historic route through the landscape is Lorendamm, northeast of Tonkuhle. It is still visible; clay was transported along it to the brickworks in Helmshagen. The former narrow-gauge railway embankment and Lorendamm thus tell of different uses for these routes: one is now a walking and jogging trail, while the other recalls the former transport of clay.

Potthäger Forest and Excursions Throughout the Year

Potthäger Forest covers the southern part of the municipality. This contiguous woodland spans more than 1,000 hectares in total and includes bogs, meadows, and diverse flora and fauna. A network of hiking trails runs through the forest. Maps at the start of Guester Weg and at the crossroads between Pott and Weitenhagen show their routes. This makes it possible to plan a forest walk using the trail map, rather than focusing only on individual sights in the area.

Schwedenschanze also offers something different: it is a popular destination for woodland adventurers all year round, where visitors can build dens and run around. In winter, the hills at Schwedenschanze are ideal for sledging among the beech and spruce trees. This seasonal activity adds another way to spend time outdoors alongside walking and jogging.

A historical account of an excursion also passes Schwedenschanze: after the narrow-gauge railway began operating, many people from Greifswald used it for trips to the municipality of Weitenhagen and walked from there past the hill to Söllkensee. This describes the former use of the railway and a trip taken at the time, not today's transport services.

If you are travelling with children, the winter sledging and the opportunity to play and run around at Schwedenschanze offer specific ideas for outdoor activities. Which holiday apartment is right for you depends above all on which of these sides of Weitenhagen you would like to discover during your stay.

Discover More Places

To discover more local places, you can also explore Levenhagen, Hinrichshagen, Diedrichshagen, Mesekenhagen, Dargelin, Behrenhoff, Dersekow and Neuenkirchen.

For the wider travel overview: Amt Landhagen.