Warnow: Nature at Santower See and Bössow Village Church

Warnow brings together nature, village history and cycling routes. The municipality lies entirely within the Nordwestmecklenburgisches Hügelland Landscape Protection Area. A defining feature is the fields, surrounded by a wide network of hedgerows. At Santower See, protected shoreline areas, reed beds and wet meadows take centre stage; in Bössow, rural village features and the village church provide the cultural focus. This gives you several themes to consider when planning your trip: habitats by the lake, cycling tours through several villages, and the architectural and artistic history of the village church.

Landscape and nature at Santower See

Santower See borders Warnow and lies within the municipality. Its shoreline areas are protected as a nature reserve. The shallow lake provides important habitats for plants and animals; reed beds and wet meadows offer habitats for many species. In autumn, many thousands of geese of various species use the lake as a roosting site. The exact number varies, but the birds’ stopover is a seasonal highlight of this natural area. While the geese are a defining feature mainly in autumn, reed beds and wet meadows are other important habitats by the lake.

You can plan walks of varying lengths around Warnow and Santower See. Before setting out, check access and local trail conditions. The different route lengths give you a starting point for matching the planned distance to your available time.

Cycling routes through Warnow and the surrounding area

The municipality recommends a cycling tour from Grevesmühlen through Warnow and Bössow to the Baltic Sea at Wohlenberger Wiek. The rural road network is considered suitable for cycling tours. In addition, the “Castles and Manor Houses” route passes through Bössow, Thorstorf and Warnow and connects to the Baltic Sea Cycle Route. It runs through the Mecklenburg landscape of rolling fields and meadows. In the municipality’s recommendation, Wohlenberger Wiek is named as the destination; for the themed route, the sequence of villages and the connection to the Baltic Sea Cycle Route provide guidance. Before setting out, check local route conditions and signage.

Bössow and the village church

Bössow is considered a rural village. Several old farmhouses are well preserved, alongside the small Bössow Village Church. It was built in the first half of the 14th century as a late-medieval brick church with a low, square western tower.

The east window contains stained glass from the late 14th century. It depicts the Adoration of the Magi, as well as several apostles and saints. The pulpit dates from 1674, while the altarpiece is Neo-Gothic. In this way, medieval architecture and stained glass meet a 17th-century pulpit and an altarpiece in a later style. These details offer different ways to understand the church’s architecture and furnishings.

Destinations for gentle tourism and types of accommodation

Großenhof and Gantenbeck are considered destinations for gentle tourism because of their proximity to the Baltic Sea and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Großenhof Castle is considered an old, listed half-timbered building; several holiday bungalows are associated with it. These bungalows are a different type of accommodation from hotels. If they are an option for your plans, check their current availability separately.

Discover more destinations: Testorf-Steinfort, Gägelow, Rüting, Roggenstorf, Bernstorf, Mallentin, Plüschow, Upahl.

For the overall travel overview: Amt Grevesmühlen-Land.