Klausdorf: Manor History and Bodden Nature

Manor Park and Vorpommernhus

The history of the manor complex can be seen in several surviving buildings and features. These include the former inspector’s house, three farm buildings, the orangery and the manor park with its wall and observation tower. The park is a listed historic site. The inspector’s house is a Neo-Baroque building dating from around 1890 and gives the ensemble a distinctive architectural accent.

Another building in the manor complex now serves several purposes: the former large bull barn was extensively renovated in 2006 and converted into the Vorpommernhus. It houses a small gallery and the leisure and tourist information centre. The building is also used for cultural events and serves as a community centre. The history of the manor and its present-day use offer several different perspectives on Klausdorf.

The manor park also contains a reconstructed espalier fruit orchard. Old and fine varieties of fruit trees and shrubs grow there in four beds, each about 70 metres long. The collection includes berry fruit, shrubs and pome fruit, as well as wall-trained espalier fruit varieties. Those interested in garden culture and historic sites will find a specific feature here that characterises the park beyond its protected grounds as a whole. The former observation tower in the manor park was restored in 2012 and converted into the Klausdorf Species Conservation Tower.

Bodden, Trails and Nature

For active days, Klausdorf offers cycling through fields and forests, walks in nature and paddling on the Bodden. Each activity offers a different focus: a cycling tour takes you through the landscape on land, walking puts the focus on experiencing nature on foot, and on the Bodden you can enjoy the water as well. The beaches directly on the Bodden round out the options. Together with the wildlife, including cranes and white-tailed eagles, the landscape particularly appeals to travellers who enjoy spending time outdoors.

The neighbouring municipality also has other places to visit in Barhöft. The national park exhibition in the Haus am Kliff presents the protected landscape through photographs, drawings and engaging displays; it is also aimed at adults and international visitors. The exhibition is accessible to wheelchair users, and disabled parking spaces are available at the building. It is located near the harbour, at the top of the Barhöft cliff and beside the easily visible observation tower. From the harbour, follow the signs towards the cliff.

The observation tower beside the exhibition is 17 metres high and offers views across large parts of the national park, as well as of islands, wind flats, the Bodden and the Baltic Sea. The trail along the Barhöft cliff starts at the car park in Zarrenzin and follows the old cliff to Barhöft. The car park also has a smaller viewing platform overlooking the Werder Islands and the Bodden waters. In Barhöft, the exhibition, viewpoints and trail along the cliff are all highlights in their own right within the municipality.

The Barhöft harbour has berths, all equipped with electricity and drinking water. Other options mentioned there include kayak trips to Hiddensee and fishing in waters rich in fish. When choosing a focus for your holiday, you can therefore choose between manor history and nature experiences in Klausdorf, or the exhibition, cliff and harbour in Barhöft. A holiday apartment in Klausdorf is a good search option if you mainly want to explore the local beaches, trails and manor complex.

Other places you can include in your choice of destination are Altenpleen, Groß Mohrdorf, Preetz, Kramerhof and Prohn.

For the broader travel overview: Amt Altenpleen.