Poel Island – Nature, Coast and Culture

The island offers a range of ways to explore these themes, from birdwatching near Gollwitz to collections and historic buildings. These highlights can help you plan your trip.

Island Nature and Birdwatching

The Langenwerder bird sanctuary provides suitable habitats for wading and water birds; migratory birds also use it as a resting place. Langenwerder is very close to Gollwitz beach. There, you can observe rare bird species from a beach chair. This stretch of coast brings together the birds’ habitat and the opportunity to watch them from the beach.

Outside the breeding season, organized weekly guided tours through a nature reserve are offered from July until probably October. An ornithologist accompanies the tours; each visit is limited to 25 people. Check the dates before your trip, as the season is limited and runs until probably October.

The Poel Erratic Boulder Garden offers another way to explore natural history. It displays rocks found exclusively on the coasts or in the fields of Poel Island, offering insight into around two billion years of Earth’s history. The focus is therefore both on where the rocks were found on the island and on the vast geological timespan they illustrate.

On Foot, by Bike and on the Water

Almost all places on Poel Island can be reached on foot or by bicycle via signposted country lanes. Bikes can be rented in Gollwitz, Kirchdorf, Am Schwarzen Busch, Kaltenhof and Timmendorf-Strand. If you plan to rent a bike, check in advance which providers are currently available.

During the bathing season, Timmendorf beach offers a wide range of water sports, including water skiing, kitesurfing and surfing. Another way to get out on the water is to paddle around the island by kayak: trips run on Thursdays from May to October and last six hours. Equipment and an experienced skipper are provided for the group tour around Poel. The nearby islands mentioned include Grot Deil, Langenwerder and Walfisch. As the tour runs seasonally, check the date in advance.

Sailboats and motorboats can also find plenty of visitor berths in the larger harbours of Timmendorf, Kirchdorf and Niendorf. The harbours have service and supply facilities. Both activities on the water and the harbours themselves are therefore among the island’s maritime highlights.

Church, History and Collections

The island church on Poel Island is a brick church dating from the first half of the 13th century, built in the Romanesque-Gothic style. Its 47-metre-high tower is a landmark visible from far across the island. In addition to services, the church hosts guided tours and visits, as well as numerous concerts. If you have a specific visit or event in mind, check the current options and dates.

In Kirchdorf, the castle ramparts of the former fortress complex and castle are now used for events and markets, as well as an open-air stage. Check event programmes and dates that fit your travel period. In Kaltenhof, the Maritime Collection displays historic ship’s lanterns dating from 1906 to the present, as well as numerous old navigational instruments used to steer ships; check the visiting arrangements in advance.

In Vorwerk, a replica of the “Poeler Kogge” floats on a fire pond. A memorial in Am Schwarzen Busch and a small permanent special exhibition in the island museum commemorate a disaster in Lübeck Bay. These memorial sites add a distinct historical perspective to the island’s buildings and collections.

In the district of Malchow, the University of Wismar’s show garden serves students as a hands-on site for research into biotechnology and renewable resources, and is open to visitors free of charge. If you would like to visit, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

Getting to Poel Island

The Poel Causeway, with its bridge, crosses the strait known as the “Breitling” and provides access to Poel Island. You can include the route to the island in your travel plans; check the traffic conditions for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Gollwitz, Wangern, Timmendorf, Amt Gadebusch, Robertsdorf, Demern, Beckerwitz, Wedendorf.

For the overview of the wider region: Northwest Mecklenburg.