[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]

[Interactive map] [Zarrentin] [german]
Trekking around Lake Kirchensee
and to the Strangen Peninsula
A circular track approximately 4 km long around Lake Kirchensee begins immediately behind the church. You reach the coastal promenade after just 100m. Follow the track, it leads you to the left, passing by the small boat houses, follow through under the shadow offered by the generous chestnut-trees. From the coast, you have an overview of a major part of Lake Schaalsee.
 Zarrentin in Westmecklenburg
In the southernmost part of the lake, the small Isle of Moevenburg, a part of the Schaalelauf nature reserve seems to swim. On the opposite side is the small village named Schaliss.
Aerial picture Schaalsee Following the coastal promenade, you soon reach a small wood cabin whence you can see Lake Kirchensee, one of the many bays of Lake Schaalsee stretching before you. There it lays before you, idyllic, a coast line showing a cut-out of many arms, skirted by a broad reed belt where ducks, the great crested grebe and coots are leading an animated life.
Lake Kirchensee is the result of a bank of earth (dyke) between the coastal promenade and the Strangen Peninsula in 1911. Now, when you go across the bridge, you are already on this peninsula. An alley bordered with lime trees leads you on your way as you continue. Before 1945, Strangen was a sought after centre for restorative holidays. In 1952, the peninsula was integrated into the Boarder security system. The present day nature reserve eloquently shows how nature reclaims areas previously inhabited. The hiking track bow leads through the Strangen Marshlands with rich flora and fauna. Over a path leading through a meadow, you reach the southern lake-path, leading along the Marienstedt Street and back to the coastal promenade, presenting to your eyes repeated sights of Lake Kirchensee in its full beauty. You reach the Church Square (Kirchenplatz) in front of the convent in a few minutes.
Since recent times, it is possible to undertake round trips with a small electric boat on the southern part of the lake starting from Zarrentin.