What’s the difference between Wittenberg and Wittenburg? A whole bunch apparently. This page is dedicated entirely to Wittenburg in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, not the Lutherstadt Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt.
Now that we are on the same page, the Amt Wittenburg (i.e., the Collective Municipality of the same name) is actually nine districts that maintain a real medieval flavor — even after all these years.
Since I mentioned the Middle Ages, let’s start there…
Over in the village of Körchow is a pretty stone village church from the 13th century. And the Church of St. Barts is a tad different, it’s constructed of brick — but it is also from the 13th century. I don’t know what was going on the 1200s around here, but yet another church was being built in the village of Wittendorf. You’ll know you’re at the right church… it’s got this fat, wide tower.
And, throughout the 13th and 14th centuries Wittenburg’s Stadtmauer (city wall) was constructed as well. They sure knew how to build things to last back then, since parts of the wall and its tower are still standing. Over on Wallstraße is part of the city wall, and whose tower is now a home for the storks.
Ahhh, wonderful wildlife.
The 19th century also saw a building boom, since that’s when the Rathaus (Town Hall) was built (1850).
For as charming as that is, nothing, and I mean nothing, is as outstanding as a local family’s mausoleum. The family crypt is straight out of a horror flick with arched windows, dark cracked stone, and looks even scarier on the bleakest of winter days. By far, this has got to be the creepiest crypt I’ve ever seen. Loved it! ;-)
Nowhere nearly as creepy as the mausoleum is the Dutch windmill, also from the late 19th century. So, if you’re not into the whole horror movie thing, come here instead.
Now if you think there’s nothing else to see in Wittenburg other than old buildings, you’d be wrong. There’s a museum to visit, ya know. Located right on Kurt Fischer Straße, the Mehlwelten (Flour Art) Museum is only open on Sundays (or, every second Sunday during Winter). Plus, if you’re totally into the whole art thing, you’ll find some wonderful sculpture around town. Of course, you could just come for the annual Christmas Market and still manage to have a good time.
Here’s a thought… you can read some of the works of Hans Franck, a 20th century writer who was born here. Don’t confuse him with Hans Frank, the notorious Nazi lawyer, although he did kinda, sorta pledge an allegiance to Adolf Hitler. He died 30km away in the city of Schwerin in the mid-1960s.
While there might be a difference between the two towns of a similar name, they’re both historical and pretty gosh-darn wonderful. Either way, you’re not gonna go wrong with visiting each of them.
