Eastern Brick Route

Rostock’s impressive brick churches adorned with colorful gabled houses are impossible to miss. There is probably no more dignified introduction to this journey back to the Middle Ages than experiencing the particularly beautiful architecture developed in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Just a few kilometers behind the old Hanseatic city, cyclists reach the seaside resort of Warnemünde. The maritime flair of the traditional harbor invites a break. On the other bank of the Warnow River flourishes the Rostock Heath. Soon, the brick tower of St. Mary’s in the Amber town Ribnitz-Damgarten welcomes its guests.

The second stage of the route leads cyclists along the bay waters between the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula and the mainland. A visit to the Vineta town Barth offers variety. Also in Barth, visitors can climb a church tower and are rewarded at the top with a magnificent view over the unique bird paradise of the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park. From afar, one can see the silhouette of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Stralsund. As in Rostock, three monumental brick churches adorn the cityscape here as well.

Heading towards Greifswald, the route initially travels through flat land, where only ancient village churches or daring formations of bird flocks break height records. In Greifswald itself, the "Long Nicholas," the "Fat Mary," and the "Little Jacob" churches lift their heads towards the sky. These are the affectionate nicknames locals use for the three churches of the university and Hanseatic city. Outside the city, a favorite motif of the famous painter Caspar David Friedrich dreams on—the ivy-covered Eldena monastery ruins.

The idyllic valleys of Recknitz and Trebel offer many opportunities for nature observation. On the last kilometers of the circular route, the path passes lush green meadows, small lakes, and cool forests.

Worth seeing Rostock: harbor and Hanseatic city, historic old town with city walls, brick churches and monasteries | Ribnitz-Damgarten: St. Mary’s Church, Rostock Gate, German Amber Museum in the former Clarisse Monastery | Barth: Church, Dam Gate, Vineta Museum | Churches in Groß Mohrdorf and Prohn | Stralsund: UNESCO World Heritage, historic town center with three monumental brick churches and monasteries, town hall with magnificent show façade, Sea Museum in the former St. Catherine’s Monastery | Greifswald: university and Hanseatic city, market square, cathedral, churches, birthplace of C. D. Friedrich, museum harbor, Eldena ruins | Brick churches in Brandshagen, Reinberg, Gristow | Grimmen: city gates, church | Bad Sülze: Salt Museum, church | Marlow: bird park