Rüting: Stepenitz, Mill and Village History

Rüting is shaped by the course of the Stepenitz and its milling history. In Diedrichshagen, the character of an old farming village and the church’s historic features take centre stage. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Rüting, these themes can help you decide whether river landscapes, the history of technology, or architecture and church art should shape your stay.

The Stepenitz, the Valley and Protected Landscapes

The Stepenitz flows through the entire municipality of Rüting; its banks are protected as nature reserves or conservation areas. In the mill area, there are a large and a small mill pond, formed by damming the river. Before doing anything along the protected banks, check the current local protection rules.

Diedrichshagen is nestled in the Stepenitz Valley. The Stepenitz-Maurine Lowlands nature reserve is part of the wider Stepenitz area. Observe the applicable protection rules and access restrictions there. In the north, Northwest Mecklenburg includes the Northwest Mecklenburg Hills with Wismar Bay; in the south, it includes the West Mecklenburg Lake District with Lake Schwerin. The county’s landscape is shaped by terminal moraine ridges, gently rolling ground moraine plateaus and stretches of coastline.

Watermill and the History of Technology

The Rüting watermill operated until the end of the 1950s and has been partially renovated. The list of historic monuments, as of 28 February 2025, records it at Am Mühlenteich 2; a Henschel-Jonval turbine is also listed as part of the mill site. The surviving mill building dates from around 1750 and has a rare wooden turbine.

The historic mill had an oak waterwheel measuring 5.40 metres across, with an output of 21 hp. The Henschel-Jonval turbine is considered probably the last of its kind in northern Germany and the only one that can be viewed in a free-standing shaft. As the mill is privately situated, check its condition and access locally, and find out before your arrival whether it is possible to view the turbine.

Diedrichshagen: Village and Church

Diedrichshagen retains the character of an old farming village; some of its historic farmhouses have thatched roofs. The church has an organ built in 1861 by Schwerin organ builder Friedrich Ludwig Theodor Friese. Stained-glass windows from 1601 have also been preserved.

The dates 1601 and 1861 show the time gap between these two features. If you would like to visit the church interior, check current access locally.

Fish Species and Fishing Stretch

The fish species recorded for the Stepenitz include ide, perch, chub, pike, sea trout and roach. A 43.46-kilometre fishing stretch on the Stepenitz is associated with SFV Eisvogel Rüting e.V. If you would like to fish, check the current fishing permits and regulations in advance; fishing conditions and rules may change.

Discover more destinations: Warnow, Roggenstorf, Gägelow, Mallentin, Bernstorf, Plüschow, Upahl, Börzow.

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Grevesmühlen-Land District.