Well, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to visit some of the best German towns; and I don’t think I could have picked a better place than Grabow — a town and Collective Municipality of 4+13=17 hamlets up here in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
It’s a place where you can take a historical walking tour, pick mushrooms, or find a quiet walking path — and no matter what you choose to do (or not do) — you’ll love it.
Each of its villages are unique onto themselves, and the very fact that Grabow has prospered after being, uhh, what’s the right word? Let’s just say, the town didn’t do too well after World War II ended. Interesting, considering the town remained relatively intact during the war itself.
Anyway, that’s something you can learn along the 25 stops of the town’s Historic Walking Tour, that’ll take you along places like Canal and Church Streets. No trip to Grabow would ever be complete without seeing its Gothic brick church of St. Georg, whose oldest part is over seven hundred years old.
Grabow’s historic Rathaus (Town Hall) isn’t anywhere near that old (built in 1727), though historic nonetheless — and a source of pride among its citizens. Not too much of the town is as old as some of the Stone Age artifacts that were found around the village of Dambeck. This village, too, has a Romanesque/Gothic Church.
FYI, the village of Karstädt was also a Stone Age town.
Visitors cannot live by history alone, so you’ll want to see places like Kremmin, filled with cycling, hiking, and horse riding paths. Grabow, by the way, lies along the Müritz-Elde Waterway, so might I suggest a walk with a water view?
Milow, which borders Brandenburg, also has a good number of biking and riding, and hiking trails. Oh yea, and offers the chance to go mushroom hunting.
Steesow is also into mushroom picking, as well as having its own pretty Village Church. Zierzow is the party animal of the bunch, hosting the Summer Party, Harvest Festival, and Village Festival.
Anyone who loves those half-timbered houses that are world famous here in Germany, you’ll love Grabow’s Altstadt (Old Town) that’s got quite a number of them from the 18th and 19th centuries — the oldest of which dating to around 1702.
Castle lovers, don’t worry, go to Gorlosen — the village that owns Burg Lenzen and the Festung Dömitz (a former Fortress).
Grabow is so nice, I’m glad I picked back up my trek around Germany here. And now… I don’t want to leave. ;-)
