Ludwigslust-Parchim: Residence, Fortress and Nature

Ludwigslust Palace was the former residence of the dukes of Mecklenburg. Together with its park and town, it forms an ensemble known as the “Little Versailles of the North”. The palace is the centrepiece of an almost completely preserved late Baroque town layout, with a former court church and an English-style landscaped park. The palace also presents art and courtly residential culture from the 18th and early 19th centuries. In Ludwigslust, the history of the residence, the town layout, the park and courtly culture all come together.

Palaces, fortresses and monastic history

Dömitz offers two perspectives on fortress history: the citadel is a Renaissance fortress built on the Italian model in the shape of a pentagon, with bastions, casemates and a drawbridge. The museum in the fortress covers the history of the fortress and town, as well as the history of the Elbe, the harbour and the bridges. Fritz Reuter and special and art exhibitions are also among its topics. Check which exhibitions are currently on display before your visit.

Zarrentin Monastery brings together architecture and monastic history. The ground floor houses a permanent exhibition about the monastery; guided tours cover the history of the former Cistercian convent, the nuns’ lives and the building’s architecture. As dates and access arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information in advance. Guided tours are available at Neustadt-Glewe Castle, both during and outside opening hours.

The Pingelhof also brings history to life: it includes a thatched hall house dating from 1607 and artefacts illustrating historic working life. Themed guided tours explore the history of the farm, the people who lived there and life in the past and present. Events throughout the year add to the museum experience; check the dates before your trip.

Culture and regional cuisine

At the Kulturmühle Parchim, the MAHLWERK Restaurant & Café serves fresh regional cuisine. A two-storey exhibition on the town’s history, from its beginnings to the present day, is also planned for the extensively renovated Kulturmühle. This means Parchim offers both a specific culinary option and a planned way to explore the town’s history. In the historic setting of Neustadt-Glewe Castle, traditional Burgtaler and Burgfräuleinsalat, as well as steaks and fish, are on offer.

Moorland, protected areas and a circular route

Near Zarrentin, the calcareous fen is part of the Schaalelauf Nature Reserve. Visitors can explore the moorland from the nature trail. The Lewitz is also one of the protected areas in Ludwigslust-Parchim district; visitors can discover its diverse flora and fauna. The district’s protected areas also include Sternberger Seenlandschaft Nature Park and the Schaalsee UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

For a specific excursion, the 2022 edition of a leaflet describes a circular route of about 4 km on the Strangen peninsula, around Kirchensee. It starts at the car park next to Zarrentin church. As this distance refers to the 2022 leaflet edition, check the current route information before setting out.

Enjoy the water and choose the right places

Water sports are practised on the Müritz-Elde Waterway in the district. Dömitz also has its own harbour, with moorings for all types of watercraft used for water sports; passenger boats operated by the Heckert shipping company depart from Dömitz. Check its timetable when planning your trip. Dömitz can be reached by public transport, car and bicycle; it is also worth checking the latest connections.

The focus of your trip can help you choose a base for your stay: in Ludwigslust, the palace, park and town layout are the main attractions, while Dömitz offers a fortress and harbour. Zarrentin has monastic history and a nature trail by the calcareous fen; in Parchim, regional cuisine and town history go hand in hand. If events or guided tours are part of your plans, take their dates into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Ludwigslust, Lübtheen, Parchim, Hagenow, Boizenburg/Elbe, Banzkow Municipality, Boizenburg-Land Municipality, Crivitz Municipality, Dömitz-Malliß Municipality, Eldenburg Lübz Municipality, Goldberg-Mildenitz Municipality, Grabow Municipality, Hagenow-Land Municipality, Ludwigslust-Land Municipality, Neustadt-Glewe Municipality, East Shore of Lake Schwerin Municipality, Parchimer Umland Municipality, Plau am See Municipality, Sternberger Seenlandschaft Municipality, Stralendorf Municipality, Wittenburg Municipality, Zarrentin Municipality, Matzlow-Garwitz and Goldenstädt.

To the overview of the wider region: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.