When reading a bio about my next upcoming town what I look for is the word Sehenswürdigkeiten. That’s a mighty long word for “attractions” or “sights” — because I want to know what I’m going to get all excited about.
And, Holy mackeral, the list of attractions for the town of Gransee was longer than a career criminal’s rap sheet. ;-)
Under the banner of Schlösser und Burgen (that would be castles), there were three. Schloss Meseberg now belongs to the government, but they did a good job of keeping up its Baroque Gardens — even if the castle’s only open 1 day a year.
You can only see the outside of Schloss Rauschendorf, the oldest of the three, built in 1540. But you’re more than welcome to visit the Baroque Castle Dannewalde, an old manor house from the 17th century.
The list of churches to see here is like three times the size than its castles, but with so many villages that belong to the place it’s no wonder. I really like the Dorfkirche (village church) in Altlüdersdorf, a half-timbered gem from 1702.
However, the Advent Church Neuglobsow is exceptionally pretty, as is the Dorfkirche Dollgow that’s been called somber Baroque. Somber? This light colored church isn’t somber — it’s cheery.
A few of Gransee’s churches are from the Middle Ages, and the Dorfkirche Rönnebeck with its wide, tall, stone tower is my favorite. The Franciscan Church got its start in 1280 when there was a monastery here. It isn’t a working church any longer, but you can still see it with a guided tour.
The St. Marienkirche on the Kirchplatz is a medieval/Baroque church that has somehow managed to survive wars and countless fires. Besides services, this church offers summer musical events from April to October.
For museums, Gransee’s got three of those. The Glasmacherhaus (Glassmaker’s House) you can hear about the history of the industry that was once booming around tow in the 18th & 19th centuries.
The Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum) gets into some more of the town’s history; and the Naturpark Stechlin in Menz is open daily with kids events and other exhibitions about the local flora & fauna.
If you count the Gut Zernikow, a farmstead from 1740, then you’ve got four “museums.” But, really, this is a venue for all sorts of lectures and exhibitions throughout the year.
As if this isn’t enough, you can get a boat rental for a day out on the water, skydive, hit the Run Park, or, in the Dannenwalde district, walk along the Barfußpfad (Barefoot Path).
And when that’s all done, you can join in the Erntedankfest in Dollgow or the Schützenfest in Gransee proper, both in September, or shop at two Christmas Markets in December.
It takes a month of Sundays to see all of Gransee — and it I think it took me just as long to read all about Gransees Sehenswürdigkeiten. ;-)
